Impact of Increase in Petrol Rate & Mustard Oil in People of Assam
GUWAHATI: Assam has been feeling the brunt of drastic rise in petrol prices, after the petrol price in the state crossing up to 100 Rupees per litre in a few districts. The city of Guwahati is amongst the areas in the state to have been worst hit by the rising fuel hike. The city had seen the price of petrol cross the century mark on Wednesday.
In order to cope up with the current fuel price hike, the residents of Assam are being forced to resort to drastic cost cutting methods, including abandoning their privately owned vehicles.
"I wasn't shocked to find out that the petrol price had crossed Rs 100. I have already made some changes in fuel budget. Earlier, I used to drive to work, now I use my motorcycle. We use the car only when it is an emergency," a banker, who drives regularly from Maligaon to Bamunimaidan, said.
"A common man cannot afford fuel and mustard oil at the same time. Fuel prices hit a century while mustard oil has crossed double century," says Pradip Deka, a businessman who can no longer afford to regularly use his motorcycle, and instead now used a bicycle as his regular mode of transportation.
On Wednesday, premium petrol was selling for Rs 100.25 per litre in Guwahati, while standard petrol was selling for Rs 95.98 per litre. In Guwahati, the largest city in Northeast India, a litre of diesel cost Rs 88.85.
Petrol and fuel prices were raised 16 times in June, and three times in the first seven days of July.
There was a brief period during March and April when the fuel prices did not hike, just after the election dates for five states - Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu , Kerala and Puducherry. Prices were instead cut three times in March and once in April. In May, prices were raised a total of 16 times. Petrol and diesel prices increased again on July 7, bringing the total to 60 increases from January to July 7.