Diesel now costs more than petrol in Odisha
22 Oct 2018
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Diesel became costlier than petrol in India for the first time with the selling price of diesel stood 12 paise higher than that of petrol in Bhubaneswar, Odisha when diesel per litre was selling at Rs80.69 per litre while petrol was priced at Rs80.57 per litre.
The in Bhubaneswar per litre diesel prices have crossed that of petrol. Meanwhile, in the national capital Delhi, a city-wide strike of petrol pumps has been observed today.
This is the first time that the price of diesel surpassed that of petrol in Odisha, where the government levies a uniform 26 per cent VAT (Value Added Tax) on both petrol and diesel while other states have different VAT rates for petroleum products.
“This imbalance is mostly due to faulty policy of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre ... There could be a tactical understanding between the central government and oil marketing companies,” S B Behera, Finance Minister, Odisha was quoted in a PTI report.
Earlier on Sunday, union minister of petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan asked the Odisha government to slash the VAT rates in order to provide relief to consumers.
Meanwhile, in the national capital Delhi, petrol pumps observed a city-wide strike today. About 400 petrol refueling stations remained shut to protest against Delhi government’s refusal to lower VAT on petrol, diesel.
“The central government had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre each on September 4. This was followed by a reduction of VAT by various states including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh bringing relief to their residents. But Delhi government refused to reduce VAT on fuel both petrol and diesel resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA), was stated in an ANI report.
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