Petrol price may be cut by up to Rs 2 a litre soon

June 15, 2012

petrol

Mumbai, June 15: Petrol car owners may soon heave a sigh of relief as oil marketing firms are expected to cut petrol prices by up to Rs 2 per litre on Friday due to falling international crude prices. Crude prices, which fell to $96.5 per barrel on Wednesday, the lowest level in the last one year, have provided enough legroom for the oil firms to reduce petrol prices.

State-owned oil marketing firms Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) will meet on Friday to decide on the quantum of reduction in petrol prices to be passed on to consumers, who suffered the steepest ever petrol price hike of around 10 % last month. This would be the second successive cut in petrol prices after oil firms agreed to roll back petrol prices by Rs 2 on June 2.

Confirming the move, a senior official with India's biggest oil retailer told TOI: "There is scope to reduce petrol prices between Rs 2 and Rs 3 a litre on falling international crude oil prices but the quantum of cut will be ascertained only after adjusting the rupee's fall against the US dollar."

Here's how the arithmetic works. Every dollar reduction in international oil prices translates into a cut in product price by 33 paise. But every time the Indian currency depreciates against the dollar by one rupee, it translates into a requirement to raise prices by 77 paise. In the current context, oil prices have reduced by an average of $7 while the rupee has depreciated by 50 paise against the dollar. In rupee terms, the fall is pegged at 7.7% or Rs 451 to Rs 5392.88 per barrel on Wednesday from prices of Rs 5844.36 per barrel in the last fortnight.

"We review petrol prices on a fortnightly basis, which not only depends upon international crude oil prices but also on international product prices and exchange rate fluctuations. It's true that crude oil prices have fallen but at the same time the rupee has also depreciated against the dollar to Rs 55.79 from Rs 55.36, when the prices were last reviewed," BPCL chairman R K Singh told TOI. After reviewing global product prices and adjusting for exchange rate fluctuations, we will be happy to pass on the benefit to consumers", he said.

Echoing similar feelings, HPCL finance director B Mukherjee said that though the Indian basket of crude oil prices has fallen to $96.5, they would have to take the average of the last two weeks to decide on the petrol prices.

Earlier this week, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had hinted at a reduction in petrol prices on falling crude oil prices. "A reduction in petrol prices will set the stage for the government to increase diesel prices after the presidential elections gets over as oil firms are losing Rs 12.5 per litre on sale of diesel, which is an administered product," said an oil analyst. Oil firms are losing over Rs 450 crore per day on sale of sensitive petroleum products like diesel, cooking gas and kerosene with effect from June 1.

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News Network
August 7,2020

New Delhi, Aug 7: The Congress on Thursday demanded the removal of Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa from the cabinet and his arrest for his statement that grand Krishna and Vishwanath temples would come up in Mathura and Kashi respectively after "liberating" them.

Mr Eshwarappa made the statement while reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation of the Ram temple in Ayodhya yesterday.

"By asking kar sevaks (volunteers) to launch a similar campaign, the minister (Eshwarappa) is trying to disturb peace in the society," Congress Karnataka unit chief DK Shivakumar said at a press conference in Ballari today.

"Such people should be arrested immediately, police officials should register a case against him and the Chief Minister should remove him from the cabinet,"he said.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister Eshwarappa had said on Wednesday that he was of the firm opinion that "if not today, tomorrow, Mathura and Kashi temples will be liberated and grand temples would be built there."

"A place of devotion has to be built in both Kashi and Mathura. There too, grand temples have to be constructed. The mosques have to be removed from there," he said.

Mr Eshwarappa, a former BJP state president, said the centres of Hindu belief, Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura were a kind of a symbol of "slavery" as "temples of our Rama, Krishna and Vishwanath were destroyed and mosques built."

Stating that Mr Eshwarappa is not an individual but a minister who represents the government, Mr Shivakumar on Thursday sought to know from the Chief Minister whether this was his government's stand.

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Agencies
May 30,2020

New Delhi, May 30: The COVID-19 pandemic has left the Indian private healthcare sector in acute financial distress, a new survey said on Friday adding that the healthcare facilities in the country have witnessed at least 80 per cent fall in average revenue.

Post the lockdown from March 24, Indian hospitals have seen a large impact, especially among small and medium-sized hospitals, which are now facing existential challenges.

The survey by healthcare industry body NATHEALTH was conducted in 251 healthcare facilities across nine states and 69 cities to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the domestic healthcare industry.

The findings showed that 90 per cent of the surveyed healthcare facilities are facing financial challenges with 21 per cent facilities facing an existential threat.

"There is a need for a stimulus package to revive the Indian healthcare industry which will be crucial to provide much-needed relief to the healthcare sector which is the frontline defence in this fight against COVID-19," said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, President NATHEALTH.

According to the survey, hospitals in tier 1 and tier 2 cities are experiencing a 78 per cent reduction in OPD footfalls, and a drop of 79 per cent in in-patient admissions.

The study found that 90 per cent of organisations require some form of financial assistance.

The findings indicated that even after the lockdown lift, the situation will remain difficult for the hospitals and nursing homes as patients will hesitate from visiting hospitals.

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News Network
April 3,2020

New Delhi, Apr 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to gather together for a unique exercise on April 5 at 9 pm to show they were together in the fight against coronavirus.

"On this Sunday, April 5, we will challenge the darkness of coronavirus threat together. On April 5, at 9 pm, I need your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your houses and light a Diya, candle, torch or flashlight for 9 minutes at your doors, or balcony," Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said that this will send out a message that nobody among the 130 crore Indians is alone in this fight against the deadly infection.

"I have one more prayer to all of you, nobody has to gather at any place during this event. Everyone will light a Diya only at their doors, windows or balconies. The Laxman Rekha of social distancing must be followed," Modi said.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had said that 130 crore Indians are together in this fight against coronavirus and praised the countrymen for following the lockdown.

"Today when crores of people are inside homes, then some of us may think how will they fight this battle against COVID-19 alone. Such questions might come up in your mind? But please remember, none of us is alone. The strength of 130 crores of Indians is with each one of us," he said.

He also expressed gratitude towards countrymen for participating in 'Janata curfew' on March 22 and said it has become "an example for all countries" today as they are following it.

In his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected over 2,000 people in the country.

During the last "Mann Ki Baat" on COVID-19 related issue, the Prime Minister had apologised to the countrymen for taking the tough decision of enforcing complete lockdown in the nation. "My conscience says you will forgive me," he had said.

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