Rising fuel price makes essential goods costlier in Kolkata – Times of India

KOLKATA: There is no respite from rising prices of essential commodities due to diesel cost climbing up. In the past year, the diesel prices rose by Rs 27.03 a litre in Kolkata, making transportation of goods a costly affair.
Prices of essential commodities — from vegetables, pulses, edible oil and spices to soap and toothpaste — have been rising steadily, surpassing the household budget and forcing citizens to cut corners to strike a balance. “If the kitchen budget is perennially on fire, you have no option but to cut corners. I am now thinking of selling off my car as I cannot afford Rs 100 a litre of petrol,” said Abhijit Chakraborty, a lawyer from Behala.
Rising prices of essentials is a bigger jolt to Dyutiman Sarkar, whose wife lost her job last year. “Suddenly, my household income shrank by 50%. Despite my best efforts, my household expenditure rose by 25% even after cutting corners, sometimes eating into the emergency fund we have managed to build over years,” said Sarkar, a school teacher from Belgharia.
In the past year, diesel prices have gone up by 34%. Kolkata has been hit more because it is a consuming market — more goods come from the producing states in the west and south, and cost of incoming goods is higher than the outgoing goods. Because of the rising fuel cost, many truckers have gone out of business,” said Sunil Agarwal, general secretary, Calcutta Goods Transport Association.
Prices of almost every commodity has risen in the past 15 days. “Transportation of goods is becoming a major issue. In May alone, diesel price rose 17 times, leading to a high spike in transportation cost. The common variety of masoor daal, which was being sold at Rs 70 on May 15 is now sold for Rs 100. The price of mustard oil rose from Rs 150 a litre on May15 to Rs 190 now. A section of traders are also taking advantage of the situation,” said Arjun Shaw, a trader at Posta.
“I was checking my account book as I have a habit of writing down every rupee I spend every day and I saw a straight jump of 30% to 45% in just household expenditure,” said Abhirup Roy, a teacher of statistics.