GUWAHATI:
In view of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on February 28, said India will take appropriate action to ensure fuel prices remain stable, in an event held at Guwahati.
This assertion on the part of the Centre comes amid speculations that petrol and diesel prices, unchanged for 113 days now since November 4, 2021, may rise again courtesy the geo-political tensions arising out of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“I cannot say about what is going to happen tomorrow. We are closely monitoring the situation. The Union government has taken some major steps. A few months ago, the price of fuel had gone up when there was no military action anywhere. Our government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel to stabilise the price,” Puri said in a press conference.
Stating that India is in touch with other countries and monitoring the situation, he added, “The Union government is closely monitoring global energy markets as well as potential energy supply disruptions as a fallout of the developing geopolitical situation. Initiatives undertaken by the government are to ensure energy justice for its citizens and energy transition towards a net-zero future.”
Referring to PM Gati Shakti, Puri reiterated it is a remarkable initiative, aimed to drive down the cost of logistics in the country by streamlining and integrating infrastructure projects of various Central and state governments in sectors like petroleum, railways, and highways, to name a few.