Protests against petrol, diesel price hike continue in Kerala
Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Balagopal said a social security cess of Rs two per litre would be levied on petrol and diesel.
The price hike of petrol and diesel paused on Monday after increasing for the last five days to reach their highest-ever levels across the country.
Accordingly, the pump price of petrol in Delhi remained at Rs 107.59 a litre, while diesel prices also stood at Sunday’s level of Rs 96.32 a litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
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In the financial capital Mumbai, where petrol prices increased to Rs 113.47 per litre and diesel to Rs 104.47 a litre, the highest among all metros, there was no further hike in the retail rates on Monday.
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Similarly in Chennai, petrol cost Rs 104.52 per litre, while diesel cost Rs 100.59 per litre. In Bengaluru on Monday, petrol was priced at Rs 111.38 per litre. Diesel could be bought at Rs 102.23 per litre.
The fuel prices remained static on October 18 and 19 but increased for a fourth straight day by 35 paise per litre previously before again rising for five consecutive days between October 20 to 24. There was no change in rates on October 12 and 13.
Diesel prices have now increased 24 out of the last 31 days, taking up its retail price by Rs 7.80 per litre in Delhi.
Due to the sharp hike, the fuel is now available at over Rs 100 a litre in several parts of the country.
This dubious distinction was earlier available to petrol that had crossed Rs 100 a litre mark across the country a few months earlier.
Petrol prices had maintained stability since September 5 but oil companies finally raised their pump prices last week.
The rates increased on 21 of the previous 27 days taking up the pump price of petrol by Rs 6.40 per litre.
Crude price has been on a surge rising over a three-year high level of over $86 a barrel as global demand remains firm while OPEC+ continues to move slowly on increasing production.
Since September 5, the price of petrol and diesel in the international market is higher by around $9-10 per barrel as compared to average prices during August.
(With IANS inputs)
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