The unrelenting rise in prices of petrol and diesel on a day-to-day basis has not only evoked sharp reactions from consumers but also criticism from traders who apprehend that it will severely hit the daily life of the common man.
Notably, the prices of petrol and diesel have gone up for the eleventh time in the past 13 days. While petrol is now being sold at Rs 115.53/ litre, diesel prices have reached Rs 100.23/ litre in Bhubaneswar.
The unabated surge in fuel prices has directly affected the transportation expenses as well as the monthly spending of the public.
While the common man has been expressing resentment over the steep rise in fuel price, the State Traders Association has made aloud its concerns over the situation.
"Petrol and diesel are associated with day-to-day affairs of people and has a great impact on their life. If the price of diesel is hiked by Re 1, the monthly expenses of a 5-member family will rise by Rs 200. As currently diesel price has been hiked by Rs 8, the monthly budget of every family has gone up by Rs 1600 on an average," explained Sudhakar Panda, President, Odisha Traders' Association.
Further, Panda added, "On behalf of every citizen, I request the government to give subsidy in order to control the price hike pressure."
If such a price rise of fuel continues, the price of several other essential commodities will most likely mount. This will again add up to the woes already inflicting on the monthly budget of lower and middle-class families.