Petroland dieselratesin India were increased for the first time in more than four years on Friday, May 15, amid soaring crude oil prices and disruptions in its supply due to the Iran war, which has been continuing for over 2 months now. While petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 3 per litre, CNG was hiked by Rs 2 per kg.
The hike in prices has come following the Iran war that forced state-run fuel retailers to pass on part of their operating losses after months of holding rates steady.
The increase pushed petrol prices inNew Delhito Rs 97.77 per litre from Rs 94.77, while diesel rose to Rs 90.67 from Rs 87.67. Though this was the price in Delhi, rates vary across states due to differences in value-added tax.
Petrol inMumbainow costs Rs 106.68 a litre and diesel comes for Rs 93.14 per litre. InKolkata, petrol now costs Rs 108.74 per litre and diesel Rs 95.13, while inChennai, prices increased to Rs 103.67 for petrol and Rs 95.25 for diesel.
Meanwhile, theCNGprices were also raised by Rs 2 per kg in cities including Delhi and Mumbai. After revised prices, the CNG rate in Delhi was Rs 79.09 per kg, and in Mumbai it costs Rs 84. Apart from this, prices of both natural gas piped into household kitchens for cooking, called piped natural gas, as well as domestic cooking gas LPG, remained unchanged (to the last changed rate).
However, in Delhi-NCR, CNG prices were hiked by Rs 1 on Saturday again — the second hike in two days, the first on Friday — taking the CNG rate to Rs 80.09 per kg.
With already more than 2 months into the Iran war, which has adversely affected the supply chain of crude oil, leading to fluctuations in fuel prices, an uncertainty remains in the country as to whether the latest hike in petrol, diesel, and CNG prices is the first and final one, or it is just the beginning.
Many opposition leaders have criticised the government over the hike in fuel prices, questioning its policy and planning.
Opposition leaders said that the government has failed to read the crude oil crisis in view of the Iran war and didn’t plan strategically to deal with the situation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the hike, saying the public was being forced to pay for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led administration's mistakes.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
