With the increase in fuel price, residents and traders are again at the receiving end, as the prices of essential commodities are likely to increase in the coming days. Increase in price of diesel could also lead to inflated price of fruits and vegetables.
Price of diesel and petrol has increased by Rs 3.18 and 13.09, respectively from midnight after the budget was announced. Increase in excise duty among other reasons is considered to be the reasons behind increase in fuel prices.
Not only the traders, but even the residents are worried about the increased fuel price that would directly impact everyone. City residents, who were already facing increased cost of essential goods, would now have to pay even more for fuel that had seen several cuts in price during the past ten months.
However, the wholesalers of vegetables and fruits believe that there would be no immediate increase in the price, as there was little or no decrease even when the cost of diesel had decreased in the recent past.
Amarvir Singh, general secretary of the Fruits and Vegetables Commission Agents Association of Punjab, said while the cost of fare for bringing fruits and vegetables from other states into Punjab would not increase, the cost of transport to send fruits and vegetables within the state was likely to increase.
{{/usCountry}}Amarvir Singh, general secretary of the Fruits and Vegetables Commission Agents Association of Punjab, said while the cost of fare for bringing fruits and vegetables from other states into Punjab would not increase, the cost of transport to send fruits and vegetables within the state was likely to increase.
{{/usCountry}}This means that in case fruits and vegetables were sent from Ludhiana to other districts, these would be at increased cost. “Though there are apprehensions that there would be an increase even within the state, but nothing is sure so far,” Singh said.
On the other hand, Somnath Fauji, president of the Sabzi Mandi Adti Association, said when the prices of diesel increased by 50 paisa per month sometime ago, there was little increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables. “There will be no immediate increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables, but the prices could increase in future,” Fauji said.
Even the transport associations say that there are least chances that the bus fare would increase. Harbans Singh, secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said while diesel prices decreased there was no impact on fare, now there was no probability that the prices would increase with increase in diesel prices.
Meanwhile, it is the residents who have to bear the brunt of increased prices of diesel and petrol. Gurdeep Singh, a resident of Model Town, said he had to visit Focal point everyday to his industrial unit. “Increase in diesel price by more than Rs 3 will put a burden on my pocket,” Gurdeep said.