CNCCI urges govt to act
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 17
With fuel price rising for ninth consecutive day, retail prices of petrol inched closely towards Rs 95 in two districts in Nagaland on February 17 and a leading business association has urged the State Government to act on the issue.
The prices of petrol and diesel were highest in Kiphire at Rs 94.98 and Rs 85.60 respectively on February 17, according to IndianOil One app, the official Indian Oil Corporation app on fuel related needs.
Prices in Tuensang were more or less similar with petrol retailing at Rs 94.95 and diesel at Rs 85.47.
It was cheapest in Dimapur at Rs 82.89 for diesel and Rs 91.96 for petrol. (See Table)
Petrol and diesel were retailing Rs 92.88 and at Rs 83.63 respectively in State capital Kohima on Wednesday.
A comparative analysis of North East States’ capitals informed fuel prices were second highest in Kohima, after Manipur’s capital Imphal.
At ‘just’ Rs 77.30 for diesel and Rs 83.19 for petrol, it was cheapest in Itanagar. (See Table)
While prices in Assam and Meghalaya were similar to Nagaland till last week, both states announced cut in fuel prices during their respective Assembly Sessions through one form or other resulting in reduction in retail prices between Rs 5-Rs 8.
According to IANS news agency, the increase of fuel prices on February 17 followed the firming of global oil prices (both product and crude) that have maintained record streak of gains in past few days with crude reaching close to $63.5 a barrel mark. The petrol and diesel prices have increased 21 times in 2021 with the two auto fuels increasing by Rs 5.83 and Rs 6.08 per litre respectively so far this year, it added.
In India, prices of petrol and diesel are initially decided by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) depending upon the global market. However, the retail cost differs across states due to tax regulations prevailing in the central tax, state and transportation cost.
‘Follow thy neighbour,’ implies CNCCI
Meanwhile, with prices maintaining an upward trend, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) today expressed dismay over the State Government’s failure to “act on the issue of high fuel prices.”
Underscoring that fuel prices “determines every activity of a state economic,” the Confederation wondered why the Nagaland government is not responding in a similar manner when other neighboring state governments like Assam and Meghalaya have felt the hardship of its citizens and business community and has acted accordingly.
It is baffling as to why “our state government is not responding on similar direction and review and reduce fuel prices in Nagaland,” it added.
CNCCI further highlighted that the rise in fuel prices is compounded by the present road scenario in the state and maintained that business communities are “facing their worst nightmares like never before.”
The cost of transportation of goods has almost doubled over the last couple of months, especially to other district of Nagaland and even passenger transportation has become more expensive with continued hike in fares and not an inkling of going down any sooner, it said.
Further highlighting the huge price difference with the neighboring states, the CNCCI said that it is plain and simple why every activity and commodity has become dearer and livelihood has been badly affected.
In this connection, the CNCCI in a press statement issued by its Chairman Dr Khekugha Muru and General Secretary Dr Seyievilie Mor, urged the State Government to perform its responsibility by reviewing the present fuel prices at the earliest.
It further demanded an immediate review of commercial passenger vehicles’ capacity imposed as a measure against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that the existing SOPs for commercial passenger vehicles’ is practically “impossible to maintain in mountainous roads,” the CNCCI asserted that commercial passenger vehicles must be allowed to ply at full capacity to bring down the fares for common people in line with recent easing of other listed activities.
