Aurangabad, Feb 23:
Rising prices of fuel were hurting the common man.
The increase in the number of patients has added fuel to fire. Common man was facing the duel crisis simultaneously for the past three to four months.
The first is skyrocketing prices of diesel, petrol and gas and edible oil while another is the rising number of COVID patients again.
During an interaction will common people, it was found that people have more fear of inflation than a pandemic virus. This is the reality. The reason that commoners who bore brunt during the last year’s lockdown are facing inflation.
Per litre petrol price rose by Rs 7.04 during the last four months. Tuesday’s price was Rs 98.48. The price of diesel increased by Rs 6.04 in these months. It was being sold at Rs 89.58 per litre today.
Commoners are paying Rs 778 (increased by Rs 175 in four months)
for each domestic gas cylinder today. Significantly, just Rs 3 subsidy is being given for a cylinder.
The rise in edible oil prices is also a matter of concern for the public. Except for safflower (kardi) and groundnut oils, prices of sunflower oil by Rs 30, cottonseed increased by Rs 5, palm oil by Rs 35 and vanaspati ghee by Rs 20. It has disturbed the household budget. Common people are worried about how much inflation will rise.
A labour Jivansingh Siddhu said that rising prices of fuel are affected rates of essential commodities. “The income of common men have gone down while expenses increased. The growing gap between expenses and income is a matter of concern for us,” he added.
An auto driver Shaikh Mehboob said that he used to fill two half and three litres of petrol in his vehicle before lockdown.
“With the decrease in passengers strength, he fills one and a half litres of petrol, prices of which were increased. There is low income and high inflation. People like me are passing through the worst situation,” he added.