Bhubaneswar: A sharp rise in the prices of petrol and diesel, which touched a new high on Sunday has badly hit the customers in Odisha. With petrol price touching Rs 84, the highest-ever in the State, consumers said they are feeling the pinch.
According to reports the petrol price increased by 29 paise per litre to Rs 84.5 while diesel price rose to Rs 80.19 per litre with an increase of 32 paise on Sunday. In the last 16 days, the prices of petrol and diesel were hiked 14th times.
Customers said due to least movement of vehicles owning to Covid-19 restrictions, the fuel expenses were relatively low for the past few months. However, with easing of restrictions and opening of economic activities, the skyrocketing fuel prices have affected them badly, they added.
"I lost job during Covid-19 and now I have opened a shop. I need to travel every day. If the fuel prices increase rapidly, how will we survive," said a customer while refuelling at a petrol pump in Bhubaneswar.
"The Centre and State government should take steps to curb the increasing fuel prices. It will immensely benefit all categories of people like lower, middle and marginal classes," said another customer.
Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the increase in the fuel prices is the outcome of US elections and internal problems in some countries and expressed hope that the fuel prices would stabilise soon.
"The fuel prices had recently increased in the international market due to the US elections and some internal issues in some countries. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has decided to increase the crude oil production by 5 lakh barrels a day. We are going to benefit out of it. We are of the view that the (fuel) price would stabilise."
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)