Fuel prices soar in city amid lockdown

SHILLONG, May 26: With COVID-19 now keeping most commuters off the streets in Shillong, not many would feel the pricking of paying for petrol, but those that still visit gas stations to refuel their vehicles know about the price of petrol soaring in the capital city.
On Wednesday, petrol price in Shillong soared to Rs 89.21 per litre, while the price of diesel in the city was Rs 83.27.
The state government, on the other hand, is charging 20 per cent or Rs 15 per litre, whichever is higher, on petrol and 12 per cent or Rs 9 per litre, whichever is higher, on diesel.
Earlier, the government charged 31 per cent tax per litre on petrol and 22.5 per cent per litre on diesel.
In addition, pollution surcharge of Rs 0.10 per litre on both petrol and diesel is also being charged, and the government at the moment is not offering rebate on petroleum products.
Price of petrol began soaring in Shillong as soon as the lockdown was imposed in May.
The general secretary of the petrol pump dealers of Meghalaya told The Shillong Times that it is not the government which has increased the prices of petrol, but the oil companies.
The general secretary added that if the state government had not cut down the taxes, the prices of petrol in Meghalaya would have been increased by Rs 7 per litre, even as he informed that the current taxes on petrol and diesel in the state is one of the lowest in the country.
Asked what could drive the surge in the prices of fuel, he said that the Centre may be mounting pressure on oil companies for revenue collection since fuel is the only product which is being sold consistently even during lockdowns. He also maintained that the prices of petroleum products may continue to increase as long as lockdown continues.
It was also informed that almost all petrol pumps in Shillong have seen a dip in sales by 90-95 per cent ever since the pandemic gripped the state. “We are having only 5-10 per cent of our original sales,” the general secretary added.