Why are prices of petrol and diesel increasing? Petroleum minister explains
In April last year, India had supported the decision of the major oil-producing countries to cut production as there was a sharp fall in demand amid Covid-19 pandemic.
India has urged the OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and OPEC plus countries to not go for a production cut as that is impacting the fuel price in India, Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday.
"There are two main reasons behind the fuel price rise. International market has reduced fuel production and manufacturing countries are producing less fuel to gain more profit. This is making the consumer countries suffer," the minister said.
West Bengal govt reduces tax by Re 1 per litre on petrol, diesel
In April last year, India had supported the decision of the major oil-producing countries to cut production as there was a sharp fall in demand amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Also Watch | How to control soaring petrol & diesel prices? Nirmala Sitharaman answers
For over 10 days, the prices of petrol and diesel are increasing. In Mumbai, petrol is at an all-time high of ₹97 per litre, while diesel rate crossed ₹88-mark.
Congress and other opposition parties have been protesting against the Centre for the rising fuel prices while the Centre has said it alone has little role behind the astronomical rise in the price. "It’s a very vexatious issue in which no answer except for reducing the price (of fuel) will convince anyone. I know I am trading on an area where whatever I may say to bring the reality into picture will only sound like I’m obfuscating, I’m avoiding the answer, I am shifting the blame…," finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
Two poll-bound states, Assam and West Bengal, have cut fuel prices by lowering the taxes that state governments levy on fuel prices. The Assam government has reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by ₹5 per litre. The West Bengal government on Sunday announced a reduction of tax by ₹1 per litre on petrol and diesel.
Recently in Parliament, the minister said that blaming the Centre for the price rise is wrong as states too have increased VAT on fuel.