S P O T L I G H T

Petrol, diesel prices slashed
New Delhi, November 15
Public sector oil companies today reduced the prices of petrol by 69 to 75 paise per litre and diesel by 68 to 81 paise per litre, keeping in line with the fall in international prices. The new prices will be effective from midnight tonight. Petrol will now cost Rs 29.57 per litre in New Delhi, down by 69 paise, while diesel will cost Rs 18.57 per litre — a reduction of 68 paise per litre. In Mumbai the price of petrol will now be Rs 34.23 per litre. In Kolkata the price of petrol will be Rs 31.01 per litre and in Chennai the price will be Rs 32.05 per litre. The price of diesel in Mumbai will be Rs 23.75 per litre, Rs 19.96 per litre in Kolkata and Rs 20.43 per litre in Chennai. TNS

Cellphones cheaper
Chandigarh, November 15
Mobile phones, cement, sports goods and rice bran became cheaper in Punjab with the reduction of sales tax on them by up to two-thirds of the existing rates. The State Cabinet, which met here this evening under Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, slashed the sales tax on mobile phone from 12 to 4 per cent, halved it on de-oiled rice bran to 4 per cent, reduced it from 12 to 8 per cent on cement and by 1 per cent on sports goods from 3 to 2 per cent.