THOUGH PEOPLE have welcomed the cut in fuel prices, but they are not very optimistic about fall in prices of essential commodities in the near future. For the traders community, the slash in petrol and diesel prices is just an eyewash and is too little as compared to the international prices.
Petrol pump owners rued that they had to incur a loss of between Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh due to the sudden decision by the government to bring down fuel prices. However, a segment of people felt that the prices of wheat, rice, sugar and some vegetables coming from other states may come down with the decrease in transportation cost. “But the price cut will be very nominal and barely affect the monthly budget of a common man. Also don’t expect the prices to come down for the next one month,” said Himanshu Kharbanda, city president UP Udyog Vyapar Sangathan.
Kharbanda said the per barrel petrol price in the international market had come down from $75 to $50 a long time back. The government’s decision of reducing petrol price by Rs 2 and diesel by Rs 1 was not in conformity with the international prices. It was just an eyewash. There would be barely any effect on the prices of engineering and electronic items, he added. District president, Allahabad Goods Transport and Motor Operator Association, Anil Kushwaha felt that nominal cut in fuel prices would not bring down their losses.
The freight of general merchant items and hosiery is fixed and is much too less.
{{/usCountry}}The freight of general merchant items and hosiery is fixed and is much too less.
{{/usCountry}}However the transportation cost of wheat, rice, sugar, iron goods and other eatable items is expected to come down by Rs 500 in the fully loaded trucks.
This may affect the prices of these items, but again it depends on traders how much to charge from consumers,” he added.
Petrol pump owner Arun Baggha said due to government’s sudden decision to reduce prices, they might incur losses between Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The losses depended on the stock-in-hand. “But still we welcome the decision, as it will also reduce our investment cost,” he pointed out. Government employee SG Shukla said it was a much-awaited decision to bring down fuel prices. “We welcome the decision, but again the price cut is too nominal and may not make much affect on the monthly budget,” he said.
Meanwhile, the senior Congress leaders including All India Congress Committee members have expressed their gratitude to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for forcing the government to bring down fuel prices, in the common man’s interest.