Diesel price to hit century, governments fail to interfere

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prices of petrol and diesel increased today also. With an increase of 37 paise, the price of diesel is nearing a century. The price of diesel in Thiruvananthapuram is Rs 99.10 paise after an increase of 30 paise. With this, the price of petrol in Thiruvananthapuram is Rs 105.78 paise. The price of petrol per litre in Kochi is Rs 103.80 paise. The price of diesel here is Rs 97.20 paise. Oil companies are raising fuel prices in the name of rising international crude oil prices. Crude oil prices are currently at a three-year high. Experts say fuel prices are likely to rise in the country in the coming days.

The oil companies which raises petrol and diesel prices sharply in the wake of rising international crude oil prices, don’t decrease the fuel prices when the prices of crude oil falls. The central government is not ready to intervene in reducing prices. The centre has said that petrol and diesel prices will be included in the GST, but no strong actions are taken for that. Even BJP-ruled states have opposed the inclusion of petrol and diesel prices in the GST, citing revenue losses. They also pointed that the price of LPG included in the GST is increasing frequently.