Rising fuel costs may hit vegetable prices

Even though price of petrol was Rs 76.85 and 76.99 on Friday and Saturday respectively, it increased to Rs 77.19 on Sunday, shocking owners of vehicles. The price rise in the petrol will pave the way for increasing price of vegetables and other commodities, according to traders.

Owners of lorries and other heavy vehicles say that they are likely go on a strike demanding roll back of price. R Sugumar, president of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation said that they were already suffering a lot due to pending rents, toll increase and other issues. 

“We already held talks with Union Finance Ministry and have decided to stage a strike on June 18 demanding roll back of price of diesel and toll fee. Further, we have demanded the Centre that prices of diesel and petrol should be brought under Goods and Services Tax (GST) so that price will reduce,” he said. Even farmers will not call them to transport their goods due to the increase in price, he noted.

Meanwhile, the transport department, which hiked the fare in January this year, factored the price rise in the petrol and diesel prices. “However, we will not raise bus fare this time, owing to the hike in the price of petrol and diesel,” said an official. 

Similarly, VR Soundararajan, president of Koyambedu Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, said that there is a high possibility that price of vegetable, flower and fruits will be increased soon. “The biggest market is receiving around 350 lorries per day and increase in the price of petrol and diesel, the transportation cost will go up, paving the way for price rise of vegetables and other commodities to increase,” he said.