SHILLONG: The rising prices of petrol and diesel has fuelled discontentment among buyers in Shillong who want the Centre to step in to ease the problems of the common man.
As petrol price plummeted to four-year high and diesel at all time peak on Monday, vehicle owners in the city wondered whether at all the surge will come to a halt.
A two-wheeler rider waiting near the Fire Brigade petrol pump for refueling said even an increase by a rupee affects the common man because it is his hard-earned money.
“The increasing petrol prices are making life difficult for us as we travel to and fro on a daily basis,” the rider said.
Petrol is being sold in Meghalaya for Rs 73.28 per litre and diesel at a record price of Rs 64.53 a litre.
While the meters calculating the amount is increasing, the display meter of the number of litres poured is decreasing.
Another individual queuing up for refuel, said, “I wonder when the price will go down or at least stop the climb. The central government should take a look at it as it is making our lives difficult.”
Pump manager Lamphrang Warjiri said petrol pumps have no say in fixing the prices. He added that there is no adverse effect on the business.
The Oil Ministry had earlier this year sought a reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel to cushion the impact of rising international oil rates. India has the highest retail prices for petrol and diesel among South Asian nations as taxes account for half of the pump rates.
Crude oil prices had gone up in the period between mid-2014 and mid-2016. But since July 1 last year, global crude oil prices shot up by 47 per cent, which resulted in soaring fuel bills.
