Whatever the official justification for yet another increase in petrol price by Rs.3.14 per litre, the end users of the fuel in the Capital are seething with anger and anguish.
Before the price hike, petrol was being sold for around Rs.64 per litre in the Capital and when news of the price increase reached the people, strong reactions came in from every quarter.
“The minute fuel prices are increased, the price of every other commodity goes up. While I understand the economic compulsions behind the hike, modalities to control inflation must be quickly put in place,” said Vipin Tiwari who has to drive around 25 kilometres every day to balance his morning shift looking after students' welfare in the Delhi University's North Campus and his afternoon teaching job at the Deshbandhu College in Kalkaji.
Javed Aslam is a real-estate agent and his whole day is spent riding around on his bike, showing prospective client houses around the city. He invariably ends up re-filing the fuel-tank of his bike every day and his reaction was not as balanced or subtle. “The government is trying to loot us. This price increase is happening so often, that if they really are interested in running the country, they should invent a bike that runs on water,” he fumed.
Amrita, an MBA student, said: “It seems to happen every few months…the price increases and I get frustrated every time, although as a business student I understand that the rupee depreciation and the increased cost of crude oil imports have led to this decision. As someone who travels a lot, the regular price hikes are a recurring problem.Her sentiments were echoed by 29-year old Business Analyst, Saurab Tandon, who said: “My next salary hike will take place only in April and these fuel hikes seem to be happening so often that my disposable income is getting severely affected and I have to make major adjustments in my spending pattern to keep up.” Saurab rides around 30 km to his office in Noida everyday.
People could be seen queuing up in front of petrol stations on Thursday evening, hoping to top up their tanks before the hike took effect from midnight.
Meanwhile, environmentalists are also unhappy with the fuel hike. “This increase could have severe ramifications for the environment as every time the petrol rates are increased, more people turn to diesel which is less environment friendly and will thereby result in more air-pollution,” said Centre for Science and Environment director-general Sunita Narain, adding that the disparity between diesel and petrol prices could result in more financial loss to the Government.
