KOCHI: With yet another increase in the petrol price, the public feels that unless the Central Government takes back the control of fuel pricing into its hands, it is going to be an unending burden on them.“The hike in prices has been going on consistently for the past few months. This cannot continue. We demand that the Central Government take over the fixation of the price from the hands of the oil companies” said Xavio Mathew, Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) secretary.“A major part of the public money is spent to satisfy the oil companies’ private needs such as to meet the expense of advertisements and the salaries of its employees. The oil companies claim that the price hike was necessary. The government has to realise that the situation went out of control once they handed over the price fixing power to the oil companies. Now, the Centre is just a mute spectator to the people’s sufferings,” Xavio added.The public also worry that the current hike will be an additional burden on their household expenses. “Whenever petrol price was hiked, our household expenses also increased,” said Edappally Residents’ Association member K Francis. Motor vehicle operators feel that they are the worst affected in the scenario. “This is the fifth time that the fuel price has been hiked since December. With these frequent hikes, many motor vehicle owners and drivers will be forced out of work,” said Nawas K S, a bus owner.Meanwhile, it has been alleged that customers were left in a lurch at petrol pumps as IOC’s competitors, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, expecting an increase in their petrol charges, refused to provide petrol to the people late on Thursday.
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