Shillong, Oct 16: The organsation Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has written to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mr, Conrad K Sangma on the rising price of Petrol and Diesel, where petrol has cross hundred rupees per litter in Meghalaya.
In the letter the HYC said that as per their knowledge and information’s, the factors that influence the rise in prices of Fuels in the Country and in the State are Crude oil, freight and processing charges to the dealer; Excise duty by the Central Government; Dealer’s Commission to the Gas Station and Value Added Tax levied by the State Government.
While International crude oil prices determine the cost of fuels in India, it is only one factor contributing to the rise in prices of Petrol and Diesel. The main reason for the hike in prices is the Central and State Government taxes.
At present the Central Government is charging about Rs 32-33 Per Liter of Petrol as Excise Duty and the VAT Charged by the State Government is around Rs 22-23 per Liter of Petrol. For Diesel fuel, Excise duty is about Rs 31-32 per Liter and Rs 13-14 per Liter is charged as VAT by the respective State Governments.
If we club the two taxes together, it may be stated that the motorist has to pay around 55% and about 50%, respectively as taxes for petrol and diesel each time he /she tanked up the vehicles. This is the main reason for the wallet-busting fuel prices in our State also.
The rise in fuel prices is increasing transportation cost across the State and directly or indirectly affect the prices of essential commodities. Considering that almost every single commodity is transported by road in the State, transportation cost are embedded into all costs. This in turn will affect all the sections of the society especially the farmers of the State.
At the time when the whole world including our State, is seriously affected by Covid-19, it is a matter of great concern that the Governments i.e. the Central and the State Government is burdening the people heavily by increasing the prices of fuels through levy of taxes. The increased prices of Fuels has a cascading effect on the prices of all items of daily use in the State.
Therefore, it is humbly requested that the State Government may kindly take up the issue of hike in Central Taxes with regard to Fuels with the appropriate authority in order to impressed upon them to reduce the Excise Tax and thereby provide relief to the citizens of the State.
It is also requested that the State Government should take a conscious decision to alleviate the suffering of the people of the State by reducing the VAT on sale of Petrol and Diesels in the State by 50% of the present rate of VAT chargeable.
The HYC hope and pray that the Chief Minister will accept their request for and on behalf of the citizens of the State as a whole and provide them some relief in these trying times. The letter was sign by the general secretary of the HYC Mr. Roy Kupar Synrem.
