Petrol breaches Rs 100-mark in 30 districts in Bihar

PATNA: Fuel prices in the city touched another high on Thursday when petrol was sold at almost Rs 100 (99.99) and diesel at Rs 93.82 per litre. The increase followed price revision by oil marketing companies for the fourth time in a week.
Petrol prices were increased by 31 paise per litre and diesel by eight paise a litre, according to a price notification of city-based fuel retailers. Since June 1, a hike of Rs 2.91 per litre was seen in petrol and Rs 2.90 per litre in diesel prices.
Petrol is now being sold at above Rs 100 per litre in 30 districts in Bihar, including Sitamarhi (101.8), Bettiah (101.4), Banka (101.3), Kaimur (101.3), Bhagalpur (101.3), Motihari (101.2), and Lakhisarai (101). Fuel prices differ from place to place depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT and freight charges.
The fuel outlets in the city said continuous hike in prices has affected sales. Ashok Kumar, proprietor of a fuel station near Dak Bunglow, said the sales have gone down by 20% in last few weeks. He claimed that the petrol prices in Patna had never touched Rs 100-mark.
Prabhat Kumar Singh, president of Bihar Petroleum Dealers’ Association, said petrol prices in 30 districts in the state have breached Rs 100. “The petroleum minister has said that the Centre has been increasing the prices of fuel to support welfare schemes. Hence, there is no comparison with the international rate of crude oil with the change in prices of local fuel. The fuel prices at international market now stands at 75.37$ per barrel. Accordingly, the prices of petrol and diesel should not have been more than Rs 80 per litre,” he said.
Residents too are worried as prices of essential commodities like cooking oil, vegetables and fruits have increased due to fuel price rise.
Abhishek Kumar, teacher at a government school, said, “Prices of essential items have increased manifold over the last few days. We can do cost cutting on other non-essential things, but we cannot reduce the expenses on food items.”
Dilip Kumar, who works in a private marketing firm, said his salary was reduced by up to 25% due to Covid pandemic and rise in prices of essential commodities has made life difficult for him. “The government should spare the common people,” he added.