Increased industrial use of diesel and preference for diesel vehicles has caused the demand for this fuel to accelerate. Subsidies are largely to blame. Three experts debate the fallouts. I S S U E S What are the socioeconomic consequences of the increasing consumption of diesel? Is relative price of diesel or better technology driving the dieselisation of the economy? How can rapid dieselisation be arrested? SUBIR RAHA Former Chairman, ONGC Group of Companies THE impact of dieselisation was captured in a headline on 25 July 2008: "Load-shedding leads to diesel shortage'. The report covered extensive powercuts across the nation, grid safety devices tripping because of bad quality of power, inter-state power sharing arrangements being flouted, a minister's hopeful announcement that the rains will soon recharge the reservoirs at hydro-electric plants, repairs at a major generating station held up for want of long-lead spares, coal shortage at some thermal plants, threat of losing out on techno-coolie dollars and finally, retail dealers in Pune limiting sale of diesel to Rs 500