ILLOGICAL TO SELL DIESEL AT PRICE HIGHER THAN PETROL
Bureau,Odishabarta
DELHI:For the first time, price of diesel has become more than that of petrol. It is significant that combined procurement and processing cost of diesel, petrol (and also of kerosene) is almost same. But kerosene is sold at highly subsidized rates because it is mainly used by poor. Price of diesel was deliberately kept lower than that of petrol because of diesel being largely used in public-transport and goods-transportation both by road and rail. However lower price of diesel was unfortunately misused by allowing diesel-cars including even in costlier segment used only by affording rich. Central government should ban any further manufacture of diesel-cars, and should continue with policy of having diesel priced lower than petrol.
Government is compelled to increase prices of diesel and petrol even though when price of crude reached to almost negligible low during corona-crisis because to compensate loss of taxes otherwise. It may be recalled that liquor-shops were specially opened during lockdown only solely with an aim for revenue-earning.
Central government must merge all public-sector oil-companies involved in marketing of petrol and diesel to save hugely on unnecessary overheads and other spending in continuing with so many oil-companies in public sector. Prices of diesel and petrol once raised should not be rolled back in case of fall in crude-price, because consumers do not get benefit of such price-fall of petroleum products. Rather money so saved can be kept in reserve to avoid some future hikes. All petroleum products should be under GST network to ensure uniform rates of petrol and diesel throughout the country where presently there is vast variation of even upto 10-percent.
Input;Ms.Madhu
