Expect fuel prices to come down: Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Amid rising resentment over unabated rise in fuel prices, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today expressed hope that prices will come down soon.

Speaking to a private news channel, Pradhan said that the government has no control over fuel prices but it is concerned about it.

"We admit that the continuous increase in fuel prices has hit the pockets of farmers and common people, but our government will soon take concrete steps to tackle the issue," Pradhan assured.

Prices have gone up due to the increase in prices in the international market. However, international fuel prices have started falling and people can now expect a decline in prices, said Pradhan, adding that it is important to bring fuel under GST.

Citing that Kerala government's move to slash VAT on fuel to ease the burden on common man, the Union Minister said that other states should also take such steps.

However, in Odisha, the ruling-BJD government slammed the NDA-led Central government over fuel price rise and termed it as senseless and anti-people with no concern for the woes of public.

In an interesting turn of events earlier today, one of India's top fuel retailers, Indian Oil Corporation announced a reduction in petrol price by 60 paise per litre and diesel by 56 paise in Delhi after 16 days of consecutive price hikes across the country; but within hours of the announcement, they revised the price cut to just 1 paise per litre for both petrol and diesel.