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The half-yearly results of the three public sector oil marketing companies show a combined operating loss of Rs 1,66,800 crore. The figure is almost unchanged from last year, underlining the colossal cost the oil subsidy imposes on the economy. Despite the Union cabinet’s decision on Thursday to allow these companies to raise diesel prices in short bursts from now on, the companies will need a huge payout from the finance ministry to erase some of the loss in this fiscal.