Hike in fuel prices to affect North East

Guwahati: One of the biggest disadvantages of the North-Eastern part of India is that it is connected with the rest of India only with help of a few kilometers of land area. This has always resulted in an additional tax or surcharge on most of the items, for example in everyday items, beginning with the milk for the morning cuppa to cooking oil, etc. If one would take a proper look at most of the packaged items (imported), not manufactured locally, there are always two prices, suppose ‘x’ price for rest of India and a ‘y’ price for North East and J&K.

The international crude price has recently shot up; it is estimated to be around USD 100-120 per barrel. In places such as Guwahati, the price of petrol has reached Rs 100.00/-, it has increased in other parts of North East, it has crossed the 100 rupee mark. Some blame it on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The war has effect the battery industry, as well as some of the resources used to prepare the battery, is imported from there. Last year, too the price of petrol had shot up to Rs 107/-, after resistance it was capped at Rs 94/-.

In fact, till early November 2021, the price of USD per barrel was 82 but it has increased to 117, almost,     USD 30 more, and for many days the Oil companies had not increased their prices, some have linked it with the recent state Assembly elections across various states, some state other reasons, etc. But, at the end of the day, the common man gets affected as a result of the Hike in fuel prices. As per a recent survey conducted across pharmacies, there is going to be a rapid increase in the prices of medicines owing to the Hike in fuel prices as most of it is imported through roadways. The increasing number of tolls has also played a massive role in the increase of prices of commodities in Assam as a number of toll gates have sprung up which has turned into a nightmare for business groups (transportation), however, it has hit the common man the hardest who has to pay a great price in terms of travel, through public transport. Increase in Bus fares, trekkers, and most recently bike taxis, one has to pay extra to the driver.  In fact, a transport strike was also called for by stakeholders of the transport industry for 48 hours, which was partially observed.

It has been observed that there is a four times increase this time since the ending of a four and a half month-long hiatus in rate revision on March 22, 2022, have been of 80 paise per litre. These increases are the steepest single-day rise since the daily price revision was started in June 2017.

The land of Assam is very fertile, many noted Historians have opined that the land of Assam is very fertile and makes it an ideal place for the cultivation of crops.  Perhaps, it was one of the factors which had attracted many settlers and invaders such as the land-hungry encroacheS from present-day Bangladesh. But, there are many products which we have to import such as wheat, onions or edible cooking oil, some of the products are imported as the soil and the climatic conditions do not permit its cultivation and some of the products we have to import as there is a dearth of industries and factories to produce the final products.

For example, there is the cultivation of mustard seeds, but, there is no proper infrastructure(factories, industries) to produce the final products. It is a well-known fact that Assam and the rest of the North Eastern States are underdeveloped in terms of industrial establishment etc.

One of the primary reasons is the sedentary lifestyle which most of the people of the North East still prefer “Akalo nai Bhoralo nai” (Not too much, neither too less). However, one more factor which cannot be undermined is because of the presence of extremism and terror groups that have deterred big companies, groups from entering this region. Especially with the ‘Strike culture’(Andolan), which would frequently take place, and a curfew is automatically imposed which in turn affects the business and overall growth and development of the region. 

Therefore, it is high time, the youth of the region should look for alternatives and try to build an ecosystem or start a process to be independent and explore the possibilities that lie in the belt.