Petrol prices stay put

New Delhi, Nov. 30: The government today decided against lowering petrol and diesel prices this fortnight in step with the fall in international fuel prices. Petrol price should have been reduced by Rs 0.49 a litre, while diesel by Rs 0.05 per litre on account of a substantial fall in international oil prices. ?The (public sector) oil companies have decided against revising prices this fortnight," an official of Indian Oil said.

Crude cost

New Delhi, Nov. 30: India's import bill for crude oil and petroleum products such as LPG has gone up to Rs 78,423.90 crore during April to October this year. This represents a 58.5 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of Rs 49,492 crore for the same period of the previous year.

Dabhol project

Mumbai, Nov. 30: The government expects the consortium of NTPC, Gail, SBI Caps and IDBI to put back in operation the idle Dabhol power project by the third quarter of 2005-06. ?Each of one us have been given a definite role by the government and it is for Gail to make it operational once the LNG has been sourced at the right price," Gail chairman and managing director Prashanto Banerjee said.

Fiscal deficit

New Delhi, Nov. 30: Fiscal deficit has come down by 28 per cent to Rs 62,135 crore during the first seven months of 2004-05, mainly due to expenditure control measures. But lower than expected tax collections led to rise in revenue deficit to Rs 63,879 crore till October.