Fuel price cut not enough'

Bengaluru: Although Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced a cut in petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2.50 and appealed to the states to match Centre's effort by reducing value-added tax (VAT) by Rs 2.50, so that the consumer gets a relief of Rs 5, the consumers are far from happy.

Most citizens felt that bringing down fuel price, which has a cascading effect on essential commodities, by mere Rs 3 or 5 will not serve any purpose. Ideally, the price of diesel and petrol must be between Rs 50 and 60, they said.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy clarified that the fuel prices cannot be reduced in the state as the state government had already slashed VAT by Rs 2.20 earlier.

Rajshekar R., 55, a resident of Koramangala told Deccan Chronicle that reducing Rs 5 on petrol and diesel each is insignificant. In the present day economic scenario with the rupees falling sharply vis a vis US dollar, it hardly matters.

Both the union and state governments should focus on bringing the fuel price down to the range of Rs 45-50 per litre.

Aditya, 32, a private firm employee, said, "For the common man, a little reduction in fuel prices will benefit. But the government must focus on ensuring that the prices do not go up every day. Consistency should be maintained when it comes to fuel price as it is an essential commodity. Increase in fuel price will have a trickle-down effect on all commodities we use on a daily basis.”