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'As a common man, I am suffering'

We asked our readers if they were happy with the frequent changes in the petrol/diesel prices. The responses are mixed. While some strongly feel that the hike is 'unjustified' and 'ridiculous', others say they are comfortable with the changes. However, readers feel the revision should take place once every quarter or six months.

Here, we reproduce some of the responses generated.

Mon Oct 21 13:38:10 2002
Name: Siva Ram Prasad Uppaluri
Email: siva_uppaluri@yahoo.com
Your Views: No, Because you can adjust our budget according the changes in petrol, it impacts our pocket , and not in a possition whether we can manage the thing or not

Mon Oct 21 13:39:16 2002
Name: ANAND PRAKASH
Email: ap37@rediff.com
Your Views: The fortnight revision of prices of petrol is not justified, as this upsets the family budget and gives undue advantage to petrol petrol dealers. The price increase has a spiral impact on the prices of other commodities, and the prices of which are increased not proportion to the price increase in the petrol but much higher. The overall transport cost also gets affected. The reduction in the price is not accompanied with the decrease in the prices of other commodies and public transport modes.

Mon Oct 21 13:39:41 2002
Name: Bhavin
Email: hisxlnc14@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Petrol prices should not increase so frequently. Also the no. of cars used by the ministers should be reduced. 1 minister travelling with min. 3 or 4 cars....

Mon Oct 21 13:39:54 2002
Name: Sanjay
Email: polstar69@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I am not happy with the changing of petrol prices. It should be changed once in the quarter.

Mon Oct 21 13:39:57 2002
Name: rajiv apte
Email: rajivapte@rediffmail.com
Your Views: petroleum companies now have the freedom to revise petrol/diesel prices every fortnight---This can be considered true, if hpcl hikes but not bpcl. When it is across the board someone else is to be blamed.

Mon Oct 21 13:40:19 2002
Name: Anindya Gupta
Email: anindya_0072002@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I don't think it to be just decision for Oil companies to revise the petrol prices so often. Ideally once changed,the prices should hold for a period of at least 3 months.

Mon Oct 21 13:40:57 2002
Name: jitesh
Email: jitu911@rediffmail.com
Your Views: these companies have lost it...there just trying to make money out of us....

Mon Oct 21 13:41:23 2002
Name: Vin
Email: vinodar@yahoo.com
Your Views: Petrol/Diesel prices are this high because of huge taxes charged by the government. Two third of the price goes to central and state governments as tax. If the tax rates are reduced, companies could sell petrol for as low as Rs.10 per litre.

Mon Oct 21 13:42:25 2002
Name: Richa Fernandes
Email: richa_ferns@rediffmail.com
Your Views: The petroleum companies seem to holding the consumers at ransom. With frequent increase in petrol/diesel prices that day doesnt seem to be far when petrol/diesel will be out of reach for the common man and will be a luxury item rather than a necessity. The govt. shud take steps to avoid such a situation.

Mon Oct 21 13:42:46 2002
Name: Makarand
Email: makarand@vsnl.com
Your Views: The move toward a free market economy is a welcome one provided the government allows competition in the form of new players. Secondly I would assume that the reduction in prices will be as quick as the hike has been.

Mon Oct 21 13:43:26 2002
Name: arjun
Email: arjun_v@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No way. This is absolutely cruel. It is ok if the crude prices are going upa nd these price hikes are seasonal. Byt only hope they also drop prices when the intl. prices even out. In the past 3 months prices of petrol in Bangalore has gone up by over Rs. 2.15 which I think is criminal.

Mon Oct 21 13:43:33 2002
Name: Franklin
Email: ksfranklyn@yahoo.com
Your Views: As a common man, I am suffering. Our per Capita income is not so high as other western countries. Common man in India will take it as a series burden. Gove should increase the efficency in this sector to increase the revenue and not increase the revenue by increasing the price. Too much of buerocracy and money being drained by corrupt politicians/ officials and public who are involved.

Mon Oct 21 13:43:41 2002
Name: Indian
Email: indian@indian.com
Your Views: It is alright provided there is downward revision also.

Mon Oct 21 13:43:53 2002
Name: Vighnaraj Kuloor
Email: vkuloor@yahoo.com
Your Views: Yes. It makes sense. We are feeling uneasy becuase the prices have been moving up of late. Everyone will support the move once it starts going down. Only thing that the govt. has to make sure is that the oil companies respond to the decrease in petroleum prices at the same speed and honesty with which they have responded to the increase.

Mon Oct 21 13:43:56 2002
Name: AJ
Email: sdf@sds.com
Your Views: Certainly not...

Mon Oct 21 13:44:11 2002
Name: DCJoshi
Email: dcjoshi_annd@indiatimes.com
Your Views: Yes,It is accetable provided base rate/barrel of oil is known and in case of decrease in international price of crude there should be the same criteria for passing on the benefit to customer.

Mon Oct 21 13:46:46 2002
Name: Durai
Email: durai_m@yahoo.com
Your Views: This kind of changes will not affect the people verymuch.by changing the amount once in a year leads to lot of protest. I think it is okay

Mon Oct 21 13:47:16 2002
Name: Sanjay Aneja
Email: sanjayaneja@rediffmail.com
Your Views: surely not with prices rising every fortnight the common man is the worst hit. the prices have gone up by approx Rs 3 in last 2-3 months. govt has played a dirty game with the masses in name of deragulation. If they really want international mkt to drive the prices, govt should remove aa duties on peto products.

Mon Oct 21 13:47:58 2002
Name: S.S.Chaudhuri
Email: sschaudhuri56@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I am quite unhappy with the frequent rise in the petrol prices.Strangely,sometime back there was a news-item that international petrol prices had come down ,but,no action was taken to reduce prices here.Time passed and as soon as prices again went up in the international market,in India,immediately,prices were increased.This is double standard.I feel,once a certain price is fixed it should remain unchanged unless there is a change by at least one rupee per litre.

Mon Oct 21 13:49:05 2002
Name: cm
Email: cm@asianetglobal.com
Your Views: No, not at all agree. It is nothing but a 'Oil-Dadagiri'. Only in India, all this types of 'Public Service' happens. -CM- Mumbai

Mon Oct 21 13:49:22 2002
Name: jagdish raju
Email: jagdish_raju123@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Sir, The god fearing - non interfering and burden bearing middle class in this country are being slowly but surely subjected to some lethal dose of economic non-decisive policies of the government of the day. The recent fuel price hike is the result of the above.

Mon Oct 21 13:49:24 2002
Name: ashwin
Email: ashwin_dattani@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No. it changes total life cycle of middle class people because petrol is essential fuel, of all major transportation of necessary goods depends upon fuel consumption either pertol or diesel. i think the present government is not capable of keeping the price stagnant and this will surely effect coming election. They have already suffered set back in J & K and same will happen in all over the country.

Mon Oct 21 13:49:35 2002
Name: S. Sridhar
Email: ssridhar@pobox.com
Your Views: I think we need to get used to this. Dismantling APM & the "round-the-corner" privatisation will inevitably lead to such fluctuations. However, frequency may not be so high - this is probably because oil companies are not used to this "freedom" and are themselves contending with it.

Mon Oct 21 13:50:43 2002
Name: Chennaiguy
Email: a_chennaiguy@yahoo.com
Your Views: This is crazy. we have to add a new worry to our heads. the frequent price changes make us recalculate each time the new price of petrol and i have a question for the petrol bunks - When prices increase (in this new mechanism) - they are extremely prompt in hiking it up BUT WHEN THE PRICE FALLS - will u immdy lower the price? U know what - i bet the answer is NO BR>

Mon Oct 21 13:50:55 2002
Name: Kishore P N
Email: pn_kishore@indiatimes.com
Your Views: No

Mon Oct 21 13:52:04 2002
Name: Sanket Joshi
Email: sanketrjoshi@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Yes they must be move according to international prices

Mon Oct 21 13:52:11 2002
Name: NILOTPAL DEY
Email: nilotpal_dey@yahoo.com
Your Views: I am absoluted disgusted with the way the petrol prices are changing upwards. Whatever prices govt. decides, it should be able to hold on to the same for at least a year. This is simply not on. And who is benefitted, it is the host of Petrol Pump owners, who are making millions overnight. What way the Govt. can allow the Petrol Pump owners make money this manner. Petrol pump business is not a share market. Imagine, what would have happened if the railway ticket prices or the bus fares were going up in this manner.

Mon Oct 21 13:54:23 2002
Name: Lalitha.K
Email: lalith66@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No, let the petrol company prepare a forecast every 3 months and based on that let them charge.

Mon Oct 21 13:55:07 2002
Name: K. GOVINDA BHAT
Email: bhatkg2002@yahoo.com
Your Views: Govt. has no concern at all about the middle class people. If the trend of effecting frequent hike in the prices of petroleum products if continued unabated, the economy of the country will soon get shattered. Of course, this would not at all have any impact on the rich people / manufacturers / industrialists, because they can make-up the losses by making exhorbitant hike in the cost of their products, under the pretext of increase in the fuel / petroleum products. It is therefore high time for the Central Govt to review the whole situation and exercise strict control over this upward trend in the prices of petroleum products. The middle class people who depend on their 2 wheelers, Autos, etc. should be given some relief in this regard. Any hesitation on the part of the Govt would only invite anarchy in the country, for which only the Govt. would be responsible. The decision of the private bus owners to go in for an indefinite strike, demanding a big hike in rate of ticket charges, especially in the State of Kerala, is in the offing. As such, Govt. to look into this aspect and take some immediate drastic measures to stop an end to the frequent decisions on this buring issue.

Mon Oct 21 13:55:18 2002
Name: S.Basak
Email: basaksub@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Does 'deregulation' mean mandatory change(99% upward)of price every fortnight. It must be done over a reasonable period of time. What being done now is simply 'slow & steady poisioning'.

Mon Oct 21 13:55:50 2002
Name: Ajith Kumar S
Email: athuls@hotmail.om
Your Views: It was promised by the Govt.that the deregulation will spiral severe competition and reduce prices considertably. Looks like all promises are false

Mon Oct 21 13:56:08 2002
Name: Dr. G Kumaramanickavel
Email: gkumarmvel@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Let us see how many people will complain if the petrol prices become cheaper rather than expensive.

Mon Oct 21 13:56:18 2002
Name: Sreekumar
Email: sreekumar.panicker@wipro.com
Your Views: Being a petrol user, I hoped with the deregulated pricing system, petrol, being cheaper to produce would cost less. That has not happened. The fuel revisions have been upward and I thind, hardly there was one instance of downward revision. If every fortnight the prices are to be reviced, at this rate I am afraid that the petrol prices will cross Rs.50/- in few more fortnights. Happy driving ....

Mon Oct 21 13:56:25 2002
Name: pratima srivastava
Email: pratimacrazy@rediffmail.com
Your Views: It is ridiculous.Nowhere in the world the petrol prices fluctuate as they do in India.In fact in the last couple of years it has become like free for all.The govt. never had any futuristic planning and instead of forging good relations with the source countries they are towing the line of west.Even otherwise the prices had been on the higher side inspite of the subsidy provided by the Govt.The oilpool has also been heavily drawn on,which ultimately is going to result in loss for the common man.The Govt. has to come up with a long term strategy to give to people of this country cheaper fuel which results in prices of everything.Petrol prices result in spiral effect of all the prices,since transportation is mostly by road.It is shameful that a country like ours does not visualise these things and act in advance.

Mon Oct 21 13:56:39 2002
Name: R Guruprasad
Email: raghav_guruprasad@rediffmail.com
Your Views: The simple fact is that the oil industry is just like any other industry which runs for making profit. They need to cover their costs. Throughout the world oil prices changes even more frequently and prices of diesel and gasoline are different in the same city for different retailers. If media attention to this reduced people will automatically appreciate the process.

Mon Oct 21 13:57:27 2002
Name: Hetal
Email: someone@example.com
Your Views: What's the difference between sugar available in teh market and petrol ? If one agrees that the prices of sugar can change as per the market pressures, why shouldn't the prices of petrol mirror the global prices ? This happens everywhere and is not a big deal if it were to happen in India too. I do not understand the hue and cry over this issue. Just because one is used to stable prices of a commodity in the market due to government subsidies, and regulation, it does not mean that changing prices are bad. It is just natural to have frequent price changes in every commodity and it is market economics. Why should it be subject of a discussion ?

Mon Oct 21 13:57:39 2002
Name: Ravi shankar
Email: fgdf@dgd.com
Your Views: No

Mon Oct 21 14:00:44 2002
Name: M J Mallik
Email: mallikmj@future.futsoft.com
Your Views: Happy when prices are reduced but the only issue is that they don't get reduced by as much as they go up. The price revision can be done once in 2 months to avoid unnecessary hastles

Mon Oct 21 14:00:53 2002
Name: shyam
Email: shyam_blr@hotmail.com
Your Views: No. I strongly disagree with increase in petrol prices that too quiet often. The govt. should think of revising proces once in a year or Twice in a year.

Mon Oct 21 14:01:06 2002
Name: Prashanth Maroli
Email: pachu12@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Fuel Prices should not change like this.Fuel price directly effects to the common people life.Transportation industry is most worst hit by frequent fuel price changes.Large amount of earnings are eaten up by fuel coast.Reason is transpoter cannot change thier services charges frequently or relatively with fuel charge. Someone who is responsible this price changes please look into the matter seriously Regards prashanth

Mon Oct 21 14:01:11 2002
Name: srinivas
Email: tejasrini@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No , I feel this is not correct, the govt. had given free hand to the petroleulm companies, instead the increase in price every 3 months or 6 months which we used to have was better so that we would also know what was happening now the prices are going up every few days and we are also not knowing how much is being increased no doubt the amt. is small but unnoticed . The system which was adapted earlier was better than the existing the govt has to think on it.

Mon Oct 21 14:01:21 2002
Name: Chandrashekar N
Email: chandru_g73@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Not necessarily. There is no need to revise rates of petroleum products avery fortnight. It must be competetion oriented like in the other products in which the rates are set by the respective producers or manufacturers.

Mon Oct 21 14:02:49 2002
Name: vijay
Email: vijayshirolkar@yahoo.com
Your Views: NO! The arbitrary increase in the prices of petroleum clearly shows the lack of proper pricing strategies. Price increase in decimals are unwelcome too. A motorist cannot pay Rs.34.56 for a litre of petrol, he has to shell out Rs.35. This is a loss to him and the government. The government has to be revise a proper ROUND figure and try to avoid re-revisions every 10 days. Proper pricing stategies involving atleast a little LOGIC is the need of the day. Overburdening the already overburdened Indian middle-class will surely be detrimental to the the responsible bureaucrats future.

Mon Oct 21 14:02:50 2002
Name: Santosh Tatte
Email: santoshtatte@rediffmail.com
Your Views: NO

Mon Oct 21 14:02:59 2002
Name: D.K. MUKHIJA
Email: dkmukhija@godrejinds.com
Your Views: PRICES MUST CHANGE ONLT ONCE A MONTH PREFERABLY ON THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH. ALL OF US ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE FREQUENT CHANGES IN THE PETROL PRICES.

Mon Oct 21 14:03:50 2002
Name: Chandan Saha
Email: chandansaha@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I am not happy at all beacause of It is very difficult to inform everytime to my H.O to increase km-price which I generally claim from my office. As a result I have to bear extra price every time. If it is once in a year , it can be adjusted.Now it is a great loss from me. Please consider this case and price to e fixed up now certain periods.

Mon Oct 21 14:04:31 2002
Name: jasdeep
Email: joberoi@vsnl.com
Your Views: no they should not change so often. They must create a pool amount which should take care of intl oil price changes as well as currency changes.

Mon Oct 21 14:05:45 2002
Name: babu
Email: bab_u@rediffmail.com
Your Views: YES,IT'S TRUE THAT P S US ARE NOT FOR CHARITY,PRICES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED WITH IMPORT PRICE FLUCTUATION OF CRUDEOIL.CAN THIS NOT BE DONE ON A MONTHLY BASIS BASED ON PURCHASES OR CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR TERMAGREEMNT OF SOURCING CRUDE OIL.ACTUALLY THE PRODUCT REACHES MARKET AFTER A TIME GAP OF CRUDE SUPPLY TO REFINERIES,SO THIS MONTHLY ADJUSTMNT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE,UNLESS THE POLICY IS TO GO FOR SPOT PURCHASE OF CRUDE EVERYTIME.

Mon Oct 21 14:06:20 2002
Name: Naveen V
Email: naveen_v@yahoo.com
Your Views: The revision of petrol prices every fothnight is fine provided the subsidy for other petroleum products like kerosene and LPG are reduced, these subsidised products which are meant for poor are highly misused for adulteration and by wealthy Hoteliers. It's high time the government took a brave decsion to cut these subsidies, infact if these subsidies are cut petrol will be cheaper and on par with rates in other countries. What is the point in subsiding diesel and giving permissions to manufacture luxury diesel cars and allowing travel agencies to run diesel driven vehicles. The oil mafia has to be destroyed to clear the way for a proper fuel prices control.

Mon Oct 21 14:06:56 2002
Name: naveen bachina
Email: nbachina@rediffmail.com
Your Views: it is an obvious result of deregulated market. and we should learn to live with this. after all petroleum companies are in business to make maoney ofcours eservice, but to give that service in a sustainable fashion they do have to make profits and to amke profits this change in prices is obvious

Mon Oct 21 14:07:05 2002
Name: Ajith kumar k.v.
Email: Ajithkv123@rediffmail.com
Your Views: it is seen that petrol prices are changing every oftenalmost frequently, Ifeel that this should not happen, price revision must take place once in two year, you cannot expect common man to pay the price as and when asked for, you must understand the situation of common man Especially middle class family.Due to the hike in petrol prices all the items are getting expensive, so government must take care of all this factors

Mon Oct 21 14:07:20 2002
Name: Prasanna
Email: brahmeprasanna@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I think petroleum companies are taking undue advantage of the freedom given to them. As a common customer, there is always a sword hanging on the neck. The efficiency with which prices are increased according to import rate, there will be no efficiency in decreasing the prices whenever prices will slash in international markets. We cannot know, what prices are prevalent and is it really necessary for the companies to revise prices so frequently.

Mon Oct 21 14:07:48 2002
Name: ravirajh r
Email: ravirajh2001@yahoo.com
Your Views: it is too bad to revised every fortnight. every three month it should be revised.

Mon Oct 21 14:08:33 2002
Name: jujjuru sambasivarao
Email: jsrbdpssap@rediffmail.com
Your Views: THE PETROLEUM COMPANIES SHOULD REVISE THE PRICES EVERY QUARTER INSTEAD OF EVERY FORTNIGHT. AND THE COVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO REDUCE THE EXCISE DUTY AT THE SAME RATE WHEN EVER THE INTERNATIONAL PRICES INCREASES, SO THE PETROLEUM COMPANIES WILL NOT REVISE THE PRICES EVERY FORTNIGHT. IF THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE EVEN AFTER THE GOVERNMENT REDUCING THE EXCISE DUTY THEY CAN REVISE THE PRICES EVERY QUATER. FREQUENT CHANGES OF THE PERTROLEUM PRICES WILL EFFECT THE ECONOMY AND IT WILL INCREASE THE INFLATION RATE, BECAUSE OF INCREASE IN PRICES.

Mon Oct 21 14:08:50 2002
Name: Vamsee Godavarthy
Email: vamsee_omam@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Hi! I am Vamsee from Hyderabad. Petrol Charges should not be hiked very often and in very small time. We can see that its been 8 months and we faced Three Revisions of the Petrol charges. At the beginning it was 30 Rs/Lit now creeped upto around 34.50 Rs/Lit. We know that the global situation of the petroleum Products and the tensions created in OPEC. But still we cannot expect this much hike. Its better the we use Bullock carts,Horse Cabs,Cycles for our daily travellings so as to survive. Its Ridiculous! There is no value for the INVENTIONS(In the sense Technology) Isn't it?....

Mon Oct 21 14:09:07 2002
Name: anand verlekar
Email: verlekar@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No, petrolum prices should not should not change so frequently. The sufferer from this mainly are middle class people & beneficial are petrol pump owners.

Mon Oct 21 14:09:19 2002
Name: K.Gowthaman
Email: shwethagowthaman@rediff.com
Your Views: From my point of view i feel bad due to frequent increase in petrol/diesel prices because it affects the ndividual people and the idustries by increase in expenses. So oil sector companies should take this into consideration and help us by not giving more burden to us.

Mon Oct 21 14:10:05 2002
Name: KRISHNA RAO
Email: pkrao1@yahoo.co.in
Your Views: The frequent fluctuation in oil prices leads to a greator changes in the market prices which reflects changes in all other goods prices effecting a common man of the society, which has to be keenly checked by the concern ministry to over come such situtations atleast from now onwards

Mon Oct 21 14:10:44 2002
Name: HSR Sharma
Email: dream5862@yahoo.com
Your Views: When the deregulation took place, everyone thought the prices would go up as well as down. But in the last 3 months it's been always on the rise only. What used to happen every year in the past is happening every fortnight. It's become a slow poison.

Mon Oct 21 14:10:55 2002
Name: Gagan Sahni
Email: gaggan_sahni@hotmail.com
Your Views: It has its pros and cons. But I suppose It should be such which should not affect the economy. Changing Prices again and again is not healthy for the society. Traders once increase the price of a commodity linking it to hike in transportation cost never bother to bring it down once oil prices go down. Moreover, Chances of an Oil Prices going down is once in a blue moon mostly it is upward only. Hence it is useless to make it fluctuating again and again. Make it a stable once self for all so that people budgets are not affected again and again and Government has enuf pool to bear the deficit. Increasing the oil prices in installaments would only benefit the Govt. people might get taken away by the fact that govt is increasing 50p in fortnight but if u add that cummulative the total would be much higher than if the prices would have increase in one go. Hence it is useless to increase the prices every fortnight. chances of price going down is rare. It will always shoot up.

Mon Oct 21 14:12:13 2002
Name: Huzaifa
Email: huzaifa_v@yahoo.com
Your Views: It really disturbing , Frequent Price Change has allowed the Government to pass on the blame as it is now not noticable that how much the price have hiked.

Mon Oct 21 14:12:29 2002
Name: kprabhakar
Email: mamathaprabhakar@yahoo.com
Your Views: YES. It is better to increase/decrease prices as frequently as required, with smaller amounts, than increasing once in a year or two with a steeper amount, which always catches the public wrath. Take example of essential commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, edible oils etc. There is no announcement of price increases, but you find that rates are not the same every time you visit the shops for purchases, as the same are get revised very often, even on weekly/daily basis.

Mon Oct 21 14:14:44 2002
Name: Anoop Mitra
Email: anoopmitra@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Yes I am, I have been travelling out of India on a regualar basis and at many places we have prices that change daily and it is great as u can pick the petrol station that gives u the least price. I cannot wait for this to start in india.

Mon Oct 21 14:15:04 2002
Name: Apoorva Kulshreshtha
Email: k_apoorva@rediffmail.com
Your Views: If petrol companies are increasing prices based on the prices of crude, then there should be a transparency on how the prices of petorl are derived at, based on the per barrel price. Not Happy. This is foolishness. We will be having a Rs 50 per litre petrol price by Jan 2004. God forbid in case of an Iraq assault the price will be Rs 50 in Mar 2003 If petrol companies are selling petrol based on a 22-23 USD price, how come they are still in profit. they should be making losses to the tune of 25-30%. Let them get clear on this issue.

Mon Oct 21 14:16:16 2002
Name: varmacn
Email: varmacn@rediffmail.com
Your Views: The Oil Companies, never in the passed on to its customers the benefit of reduction in oil prices internationally, all these years. In cases the cess imposed due to war etc. was also not withdrawn when the situation ceased. Now, when the prices are increasing internationally, the burden is being passed on to the customer. If they cannot bear the burden and cannot protect the custome, then why should they collect more taxes such as central excise, state excise etc. and they have no right to collect. In fact they should reduce their part of the profit when the customer is losing. It is time to review such defective policies where cost to cost billing is done to the consumer. The cost/ remuneration for the services rendered by the citizens to Govt. similarly should also be enhanced, which is not done when payment of D.A. comes to the forefront. Unfortunately, this formula is not applied when the Perks, salaries, pensions of the Legislators and Parliamentarians is increased suo moto without taking public opinion or taking into account the financial position prevailing. Such double standards are unhealthy sign in a democracy.

Mon Oct 21 14:16:33 2002
Name: ritu
Email: ritu7373@rediffmail.com
Your Views: i dont particularly feel tht such wavering petroleum prices are particualrly good for our country.Being an economically growing country dosent nesceraliy imply we have to pay a neck -breaking price for every commodity we purcahse. Since our public transportation system is not exactly the best in the world, and self employment our preffered regime, govt. might as well make things easier for people in every sense of the word. With the good amount of money going out on tranportation from home to office and vice-versa, and salaries evershrinking, not much impetous is being provided to an avarege indian. No wonder people are opting to settle abroad, and do lousy jobs , then prefer ones own country .It is the lack of govt. support to its citizens tht is reflecting itself in the grwoing emmigration of burgioses from india.

Mon Oct 21 14:19:00 2002
Name: Vedaantam
Email: vedaantam@hotmail.com
Your Views: this is quite rediculous. The government is playing double games. First it has reduced the price and kept it for a fortnight or so and there the prices are sky-rocketing not fornightly but weekly. In the current market trend, perhaps the present government views this as the only sector where a common man can bear the fluctuating oil prices. Giving away freedom to the petroleum companies is like giving away arms to terrorists other ultras and asking them act according to their own wishes. This is poor management and every indian should stand against it. JAI HIND.

Mon Oct 21 14:19:25 2002
Name: MUNISH GUPTA
Email: gupta_munish2000@yahoomail.com
Your Views: agreed that oil deficit pool has to be taken care of but cross subsidiation of the gas and kerosine products should also be curtailed to some extent.

Mon Oct 21 14:22:10 2002
Name: vikram
Email: vikram_varma@rediffmail.com
Your Views: yes i am happy and if the oil companies would be privatised there would be more competition and the consumer will benifit from qood quality petrol and service

Mon Oct 21 14:23:43 2002
Name: Raghuram
Email: uvceraghu@hotmail.com
Your Views: Absolutely NOT! Over the past 3 months , the price has gone up by 5Rs..this is a serious burden on the common man. Also,we are unsure whether we can see a downward trend..at all. There needs to be some way of cushioning/stemming the constant upward revision. It maybe that the upward trend is due to the crude oil prices prevailing..but what the common man percieves is that the rate of petrol goes p every 15 days and on the 15th day its the petrol bunk owners who are making the maximum amount by shortchanging and cheating customers on quantity of fuel.

Mon Oct 21 14:23:44 2002
Name: MATHEWSCHERIAN
Email: mathewscherian@rediffmail.com
Your Views: At the outset thankyou for giving a opportunity. In one line the erratic price revision show the instability of our government. Inspite of the increase not affecting me directly as i dirve a company car,over 95% of our commodities are thru' transport and this means our daily needs directly cost more,which is totally unaccpetable.If the government cannot stabilise the price let them gracefully resign and provide the space to some party who could make everyone in this country live in peace. Mathews

Mon Oct 21 14:23:51 2002
Name: jimmy
Email: jack7771@rediffmail.com
Your Views: this is ridiculous.the increase is said to be because of the rise in the intl.prices of crude.however when the intl.prices fall why dont our rates fall simultaneously!!!!

Mon Oct 21 14:24:08 2002
Name: jay
Email: jk123@123india.com
Your Views: the regulation of petroleum prices should be reviewed once in a while, keeping in mind the regular upward/downward trends in the intl market. Most significantly will the common man be able to manage the price rise and also the asoociated price rise in this regard. well govt should be firm on maintaining prices stable for 6 months atleast

Mon Oct 21 14:25:53 2002
Name: Harsha
Email: hkollar@harshak.com
Your Views: Yes. It was stupid of the govt. to try to protect consumers before. Its a business and consumers pay what it costs to get the stuff. But, when the prices do go down internationally, govt. must ensure the oil companies don't cartelise the price.

Mon Oct 21 14:26:24 2002
Name: Renuka Prasad
Email: prasad_bng@rediffmail.com
Your Views: It is Not Good to Revise the petrol prices often. Its better if the government revises the prices once in a year are so.

Mon Oct 21 14:27:36 2002
Name: sajith
Email: s4sajith@rediffmail.com
Your Views: rubbish

Mon Oct 21 14:27:38 2002
Name: abraham Edassery
Email: abrahamedassery@rediffmail.com
Your Views: It is absured and an irresponsible policy to allow the oil companies to keep their margins intact and force the tax payers and common man to pay for their well being. Can the Govt. formulate a poilicy on wage freeze above certain thresholds instead of fooling arround with DA the freeze of which will bleed the vast majority of its own employees to death? Can the foreign junkets of its mandarins be curtailed to the minimum and save precious foreign Exchange and inject the savings to the oil pool? And are'nt there scores of other totally wastefull expenses whcih can be controlled and precious money saved and invested in reducing our dependence on oil imports and blaming it all on international oil price fluctuation? The Got. needs to find a better excuse to cover its own inefficiency.

Mon Oct 21 14:30:16 2002
Name: Deepa Kumar
Email: kumar_deepa@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No , i m not happy etall with the petrol price been hiked every fortnight. i suppose these r all govt. tactics.

Mon Oct 21 14:30:24 2002
Name: Ajay K. singhal
Email: singhal_99@yahoo.com
Your Views: No and Never prices of petrol should be chaanged so frequently.India is not a developed country.If oil companies will go on changing prices of oil, it will effect our economy very adversley. As of today the petrol price in our country is higest as compare to other countries. I am against of frequent increase in prices of pertoleum product. Ajay K. Singhal

Mon Oct 21 15:16:02 2002
Name: R S Prasad
Email: rao_prasad@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Petrol price in India is not on par with the international prices, because, in Thailand the rupee equivalent price is close to half that of in India. I feel it is more because of the greed of the govt, state & central, who have put in many forms of duties e.g. Maharashtra govt. Moreover in India prices when once go up do not come down at all. Petrol in India is a luxury item. In no way ever will the petrol prices come down. I am absolutely upset, angry & frustrated with the frequent changes (increase) in the petrol prices.

Mon Oct 21 15:44:54 2002
Name: Nisha Sharma
Email: nish111@rediffmail.com
Your Views: definitely not. this only increases the woes of middle class families. ofcourse, the politicians could be least bothered because no price increase is going to harm them. it is the middle class that is always affected. unless the petroleum cos have a healthy competition and lowers the price than govt price.

Mon Oct 21 15:52:52 2002
Name: prabhakunder
Email: prabha5@indiatimes.com
Your Views: It is ridiculous that every now and then the petrol/diesel prices are rising. Earlier it was only during the budget time but now within 15 days time the prices rise. At this rate God knows what the price will be one fine day. Now the difference between petrol and diesel is very minimal. Something has to be done so that a MIG man who thinks of owning a car is not brought down to earth from his imagination of owning a car for his family.

Mon Oct 21 15:56:41 2002
Name: Ravi
Email: sunshines27@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Petrol prices should be reflect the global prices at the same time the moment should not be every other day , cauz this is leading to an indirect price rise of vegetables,essential commodities and Transportation services. Services like taxis,autos raise their service charges by Rs3-5 everytime there is a increase in petrol price , it goes without saying that they dont decrease the service charge when there is a drop in petrol prices.The service charge from the railway station to my house has increased by 60% in the past two months thanks to the BJP Govt decesion This is very frustrating to the common man. Also those in the transportation business find it difficult to plan there budget with such frequent changes.

Mon Oct 21 15:57:40 2002
Name: Shiv Kumar Agarwal
Email: shivonline@rediffmail.com
Your Views: When you say the prices change one should talk bout both increase and decrease in prices, but in this case it is continuously increasing. One can understand the fact that we are standing with major deficit but still doesnt that mean that we should approach this deficit in a rather planned way. With issues like this which has effect on the total nations economy one cannot be just so casual that is keep on increasing on whenever required. People at the top level taking care of such issues should be experts in forecasting the future specially and it should not be difficult also specially considering the fact that we have past data of so many years to refer . There are a group of people who plan their compete monthly expenses in advance, for them such unexpected rise can lead to a major problems as far as the family economics is considered. Such issues also has effect on the total economy from a small one bike family to rickshawallahs to middle and upper class families, hence one should be more careful when increasing the prices of petrol. What they can do is probably find out what the rise is going to be in sometime and fix it for once.

Mon Oct 21 16:14:26 2002
Name: K.C.Gore
Email: kishore_gore@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I am personally NOT happy with the rising trend in the prices of petroleum products every fortnight. A small price rise in the petroleum products tends to increase the prices of all the essential items required by a common man to survive. Moreover, the prices were reduced only once in the last 3-4 months & that too, by a very fractional margin. In view of all this, I feel that the prices should be reviewed every 3-4 months.

Mon Oct 21 16:23:21 2002
Name: S V Gopal
Email: svg@ece.iisc.ernet.in
Your Views: The freedom of revision has taken people for big raid. Everytime we go for filling petrol there will be a big hole in our packet. In Bangalore, it is still worse as we don't have proper public transport moreover it is heavily taxed state in India. Most of the times we feel what for we purchased vehicles. It is a great gift given to Indians by the present Government. SO for only upword revision, not even once downword revision. No end. bound to suffer.

Mon Oct 21 16:24:28 2002
Name: rameshchandra ingley
Email: ramesh_ingley@rediffmail.com
Your Views: no not at all

Mon Oct 21 16:32:33 2002
Name: Arti Desai
Email: artidesai@rediffmail.com
Your Views: if petorl price is marked to market then why not excise duty by Central Govt. and Sales Tax by state Govt. both the Govt. hiked excise and sales tax duty rate while reducing the price in April 2002 when Administered Price Mechanisum was given up and market price was introduced to protect their pocket Govt. immediately changed tax structure. Now when the price is increasing every day why they are not reducing excise and sales tax, they are getting more than projected revenue from this source for their expenses due to price hike Why they do not think of public interest at any time. Actually if they raise the excise and sales tax while the petrol price reduces they should reduce the same while petrol price increases and this process shall be automated with every change in petrol price to take care of interest of Public and Govt. both.

Mon Oct 21 16:33:09 2002
Name: Upendra Shet
Email: upendrashet@yahoo.co.in
Your Views: oil companies should change the prices of petrol and diesel etc. every one month on 1st of every month.they should change it to nearest rupee avoiding fraction of rupee.profiteering by the petrol pump owners should be checked by stopping supply to them on the last day of the month.

Mon Oct 21 16:40:43 2002
Name: Dr.S.C..Aswathnarayana
Email: aswathsc@rediff.com
Your Views: Instead of depending on petrol and diesel why can't we shift to hydro or solar or wind or Bio-moss.Through these sources we can generate electricity and we can run vehicles(EX.REVA CAR-Also a pollution free vehicle).Recently we can find in many places Traffic lights are glowing with the help of Solar energy. As long as we depending on petrol we are unwillingly accept the hiked price and inturn even other living cost also will go up.Please try to avoid other countries petrol and generate our own resources.Above mentioned sources will also help for our Farming community and conserve our petrol, diesel,Coal and other natural gases for the future and emergency requirements.

Mon Oct 21 16:42:51 2002
Name: Dr.S.C..Aswathnarayana
Email: aswathsc@rediff.com
Your Views: Dear Sir, Instead of depending on petrol and diesel why can't we shift to hydro or solar or wind or Bio-moss.Through these sources we can generate electricity and we can run vehicles(EX.REVA CAR-Also a pollution free vehicle).Recently we can find in many places Traffic lights are glowing with the help of Solar energy. As long as we depending on petrol we are unwillingly accept the hiked price and inturn even other living cost also will go up.Please try to avoid other countries petrol and generate our own resources.Above mentioned sources will also help for our Farming community and conserve our petrol, diesel,Coal and other natural gases for the future and emergency requirements. With Regards Aswathanrayana

Mon Oct 21 16:46:47 2002
Name: Jayant
Email: jkanekal@hotmail.com
Your Views: Yes.Since the concept of regulated prices/administered prices has been done away with I don't see any reason why this should cause any problems as long as the prices are in synch with the global prices.

Mon Oct 21 17:00:55 2002
Name: Madhusudhan
Email: madhu_nr@hotmail.com
Your Views: Once de-regulated this was bound to happen. However, is there a market watch-dog functioning here? Who checks the authenticity of the price rise? The wide disparity in prices across India is another dismaying factor. The price per litre in Bangalore is at least Rs. 5/- more than in Delhi. In addition, the states pile on their own levies ostensibly to improve roads and infrastructure, which only seem to worsen and increase the chaos everywhere. There should be some other mechanism which protects the common man from these sporadic hits from the petol-men!!

Mon Oct 21 17:30:22 2002
Name: Gokul D S
Email: gokul_cbz@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Petrol prices have risen at a constant rate.But for the past few years the price of petrol has risen at a very alarming rate.With such demand for petrol we do understand that it needs to be paid and used.But the price need not be such that its not affordable after a certain period of time.Previuosly we wouldn't mind going out in the car i.e., travel by car.But the raise in petrol prices has limited the travel.We understand the problems beinf faced by the government but the raise of petrol prices at such a high rate is not at all making the common consumer happy. Hope that the government would be able to provide a suitable soultion whereby the prices of remain constant atleast for a minimum of 5 yrs before the price could be hiked.Even if hiked it should be seen that its not very costly.

Mon Oct 21 17:32:47 2002
Name: gyan Prakash
Email: gyan_jampot@rediffmail.com
Your Views: It is quite correct for oil prices to change with the international crude oil price change. But being from Mumbai- my concern is the price difference between Mumbai and other metros. Rs.5 difference matters most because of tax differencial and this city being more expensive than other Metros. Transportation costs being lower for mumbai and other refineries are also not very far off which is very amazing for a layman to understand the price differential from other metros.

Mon Oct 21 17:52:50 2002
Name: k.v.raghav rao
Email: r_koppada@yahoo.com
Your Views: i am very unhappy about the frequent changes in petrol and diesel rates.certainly the goverment should be able to do something about it immediately

Mon Oct 21 17:55:11 2002
Name: Arul Jawahar Gerald
Email: ajjoe@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Changing prices frequently is a welcome move as it reflects oil prices in international markets. But, there should be difference in prices between Petroleum Agencies in such a way that a healthy competition exists, which ultimately would benefit consumers. Fixing Prices between Gas companies should not be encouraged and everyone should have their own bsuiness logistics to arrive at a price for Petrol and Diesel.

Mon Oct 21 18:02:27 2002
Name: Sandeep B.
Email: srb1_2000@yahoo.com
Your Views: The increase of petrol prices every fortnight seems to be a 'will do as we wish' from the pertoleum companies. In my opinion, this is an exploitation of the consumer. With the deregulation, the general impression was that with the competitive markets, the petroleum companies would infact cater more the consumer rather than increasing their own profit. The govt. should keep a check on unnecessary increase of the petrol/diesel prices. The frequency of the price revision( here read INCREASE..actual meaning of revision is lost here.) should be increased to atleast once a month. With these increases, India is heading towards the old age of Bullock carts!!

Mon Oct 21 18:07:43 2002
Name: G Sharma
Email: electrochemspkl@rediffmail.com
Your Views: It is very unfair. Why not finance ministry reduce Import duties from the petro-product and should charge it on p. ltrs/kgs and not on the basic price of a product

Mon Oct 21 18:14:47 2002
Name: dushyant
Email: dushyant_ag@rediffmail.com
Your Views: its a right decision by the govt. though they are increasing at the moment they sholl come down also

Mon Oct 21 19:22:58 2002
Name: D. Ravindra
Email: deeravindra@rediffmail.com
Your Views: I feel the Govt. and Oil companies are taking us for a ride (in our own vehicles!). Have the Govt. owned oil companies (read monopolies) explored all avenues to cut costs and hold petrol prices ? I do not feel they have; all they can think of is to pass it on to the end-user.

Mon Oct 21 18:38:46 2002
Name: Dr. K. Pandey
Email: kupandey@rediffmail.com
Your Views: If the price changes so often in the international market,the government of India should dare to change the price of the petrol accordingly, irrespective of the people's opinion. Since our government/country has been floating on huge amount of debt already being taken from several international organizations, therefore, just for pleasing the people of the nation to gather their votes for coming in power again and again, government should not compromise on national interests. Disgusting the people for the national interest is not bad but the dedication for better economy of the country must be real not superficial as usually being done by the politicians of our country so far.

Mon Oct 21 18:07:52 2002
Name: Y A K
Email: championsupermarket@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Its worse with the government to always increase the prices on petrol and diesel every 2 months cannot they stopped their on expenses rather putting the burden on the entire nation. Cannot they stoped their foreign visits and Holidays and Luxurious life they spend on the account of Public.Its shame that our country have never got a right political party and a Leader to run the country else till now with so much of brains in india India would had been the Superpower of the world and not in the developing stage.

Mon Oct 21 15:16:28 2002
Name: R K Punyani
Email: punyanirkp@rediffmail.com
Your Views: No I am not satisfied with the system being followed by petrol companies now.

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