Petrol price hike was not acceptable, but was inevitable: Chidambaram

03 Jul 2012 Evaluate

Extenuating petrol price hike, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, the hike in petrol price is not acceptable but at the same time it cannot be avoided since India’s domestic oil production is not enough for its consumption with 80% of oil requirement stands imported. If the prices of petrol and diesel are not hiked in correlation with international prices it would affect the oil companies.

The average international price of per barrel of crude oil is $120, which is six times high than that during the NDA regime, which is leaving the government with no option but to increase the price. Currently, the government gives a subsidy of Rs 31.49 per litre on kerosene, Rs 17.64 per litre on diesel and Rs 480 per LPG cylinder.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) suffer huge losses on the sale of petrol, the price of which were decontrolled in June 2010. On the other hand OMCs also suffer revenue loss on domestic sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene at a controlled price. The government normally reimburses oil firms in part through cash subsidies, whereas the upstream oil companies take up part of the revenue losses by giving discounts on crude oil and products.

By adding further Chidambaram said, 'some European countries going bankrupt have affected India. There is a slump in the foreign direct investment, foreign exchange remittances and exports'. During the last three years of UPA regime, India saw a 9% growth, whereas the average growth for the last 5-years was 8.5% as against the 5.3% during the six years of BJP rule. 

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