KOLKATA: Diesel prices crossed the century mark in six West Bengal districts -- Purulia, Murshidabad, Nadia, Alipurduar, Coochbehar and Darjeeling on Tuesday.
Back in October last year, these six districts were the first to hit the century mark for the first time ever till the prices were revised below Rs 100 in the first week of November.
The hike has triggered panic among farmers, traders and tour operators who demanded state and Central intervention to soften the blow like last time.
"The exponential hike in diesel price is already pushing inflation at a time when people are still bearing the brunt of the Covid induced loss of income. The fuel price includes freight charges plus other taxes levied by the centre and states. As a result, the petro products are higher in remote and interior areas. It is just a matter of one or two days before diesel price clocks Rs 100 in Kolkata as well," said a member of West Bengal Petroleum Dealers' Association.
Sources said farmers will be the hardest hit as power tillers, crop harvesters and vehicles used to carry yields run on diesel. So will the private tour operators as well as public transporters.
"The car rates are fixed for the tourist season but the way the diesel prices are increasing it is impossible for us to keep profits after spending so much on fuel," said Somenath Kha, a tourist car operator in Purulia.
In Kolkata, petrol and diesel prices were hiked again for 13th time in 15 days. Petrol now stands at Rs 114.28 after an 80p hike. Diesel in now less than a rupee short of century mark and is now priced at Rs 99.02
Sheojee Prasad, manager at a fuel station in north Kolkata said: “We have been hearing the prices will continue to increase further and thus oil marketing companies are refusing to provide us with bulk supplies at this moment to cut down on their losses as well.”
