New Delhi, April 24: A rise in global crude oil cost to around $75 per barrel lifted the domestic retail petrol price higher for the sixth consecutive day in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Consequently, the widely-consumed transportation fuel became dearer by 13 paise to Rs 74.63 per litre from Monday's cost of Rs 74.50 per litre.
As per data available on IndianOil's website, Tuesday's motor spirit price level in New Delhi was the highest since September 14, 2013 when it had touched Rs 76.06 a litre.
Besides New Delhi, petrol prices climbed to new multi-year highs in other major metro cities -- Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai -- at Rs 77.32, Rs 82.48 and Rs 77.43 per litre respectively on Tuesday.
The previous highs in these cities were Rs 78.03 (Kolkata, August 2014), Rs 83.62 (Mumbai, September 2013) and Rs 77.48 (Chennai, September 2013).
Apart from petrol, diesel prices, too, touched record high levels on Tuesday in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. They rose to Rs 65.93, Rs 68.63, Rs 70.20 and Rs 69.56 per litre respectively.
According to analysts, the recent upsurge in the costs of transportation fuel have been triggered due to a rise in global crude oil prices.
On Tuesday, Brent crude price rose to $75 per barrel due to geo-political tensions in the Middle East, whereas it cost over $100 a barrel in 2013.
Currently, prices of transport fuels are changed on a daily basis unlike the previous norm of fortnightly revisions.
In addition, the high rate of excise duty has contributed to the rise of transportation fuel prices.
In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government had reduced the basic excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2. The government also abolished additional excise duty on fuel. But to compensate the move on the fiscal front, it increased the road cess to Rs 8 per litre.
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Nepal joins Singapore and Hong Kong in banning sale of Everest and MDH spices over safety concerns
Kathmandu: Nepal has recently taken steps to ban the consumption and sale of spices produced by Everest and MDH, following similar actions by Singapore and Hong Kong. The move comes amidst concerns over the presence of harmful chemicals in these products, particularly ethylene oxide, a known cancer-causing pesticide.
According to reports from ANI, Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has initiated testing on spices from these two Indian brands for ethylene oxide. Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal's food technology department, confirmed the ban, stating that it extends to both import and sale of the affected spices.
Maharjan highlighted that testing is currently ongoing, and the ban will remain in effect until conclusive results are obtained. This development reflects a growing international scrutiny on the safety of MDH and Everest spices, with concerns also raised in New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.
In New Zealand, where ethylene oxide usage for food sterilization has been phased out, authorities are investigating the presence of this chemical in MDH and Everest spices. Meanwhile, in April, the Hong Kong food safety body banned four spice products from these brands, followed by Singapore's recall of Everest's Fish Curry Masala due to excessive levels of ethylene oxide.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has responded by ordering quality checks on products from MDH and Everest. Additionally, it has reached out to food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore for further information.
MDH and Everest spices have long been household names in India and are exported to various countries, including those in the Middle East.
