Shillong, May 19: Petrol prices in Meghalaya hit Rs 99.63 per litre today, just 37 paisa short of the Rs 100 mark, sparking fresh anxiety among consumers.
The hike comes amid official assurances that fuel supply in the state, including LPG for cooking, remains “stable and uninterrupted.”
The latest revision puts Meghalaya among the states with the highest petrol rates in the North East.
Speaking to Highland Post, the owner of Kre Jngim Lina Service Station at Urkaliar, Samborlang Diengdoh, said fuel rates have jumped twice in a week. “Last week they increased the fuel by 2 rupees 55 paisa and at midnight this morning they started increasing by another 70 paisa,” he said.
The dealer linked the spike directly to geopolitics, especially the Iran War, which has sorely impacted supplies from the Middle East.
He also flagged a major change in how dealers like him get stock. “After a month since the war started, all the dealers were instructed to give advance payment to the respective oil marketing companies,” Diengdoh explained. In the past dealers would get two to three days in which to make payment.
He also urged the public to cut consumption. “The public has to be smart enough to use public transportation and, if your destination is a walkable one, you walk to your destination. Shillong city is a walkable city. If you know how to plan your route very well, you can finish all your work just by walking.”
With regards to his own supply, he said there was “no problem” as he gets stock from a refinery in Assam. He added that in last week’s dealers’ meeting, they were advised “to spread the message to the public that they should not panic.”
