NEW DELHI: Petrol and diesel may soon become cheaper in the capital with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announcing on Wednesday that Delhi government would reduce the value added tax on fuel. After the Centre cut excise on petrol and diesel, several states complemented this by reducing VAT.
Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2021, Kejriwal also acknowledged the raging politics over the pollution of the Yamuna river and conceded that the buck stopped with him. He said the AAP government would clean the river over the next five years.
While announcing his government’s intention to reduce VAT, Kejriwal indirectly hit out at the Centre for what he described as “a minor decrease in fuel prices” after such a huge rise in prices over a long period.
While announcing his government’s intention to reduce VAT, Kejriwal indirectly hit out at the Centre for what he described as “a minor decrease in fuel prices” after such a huge rise in prices over a long period.
Asked about the Yamuna’s toxic and frothy water and his promise to clean the river, Kejriwal countered, “The problem has been created over 70 years. It cannot be solved in a few days. I will not pass the buck to other states. It is my responsibility to clean the Yamuna and I will do it.”
Kejriwal also blamed harvest stubble burning for the air pollution. “Delhi is not to blame for air pollution. Throughout the year the air quality index remains below 100, and the air starts deteriorating only around October 10 because of stubble burning in neighbouring states,” the CM said. “No farmer wants to burn the harvest remains, but only the government can provide a solution to them. With Pusa Institute, we developed a cheap compound that decomposes the stubble. If Delhi government could have it sprayed for free, why can’t the Punjab government?”
Kejriwal rued that his efforts to convince the governments of the neighbouring states and the Centre to direct the use of the decomposer hadn’t been successful. “Stubble is currently a liability when it can turn into gold, be used to generate power, coal, cardboard, CNG. Why can’t we open factories to consume stubble?” asked the CM.
The AAP leader also strongly defended his image of a cribber during the oxygen crisis at the peak of the second Covid wave. Kejriwal said the AAP government managed to resolve the problem only by making a hue and cry over it. “Even the mother does not feed a baby that does not cry,” Kejriwal said, blaming the Centre for the oxygen scarcity across the country.
The AAP leader also strongly defended his image of a cribber during the oxygen crisis at the peak of the second Covid wave. Kejriwal said the AAP government managed to resolve the problem only by making a hue and cry over it. “Even the mother does not feed a baby that does not cry,” Kejriwal said, blaming the Centre for the oxygen scarcity across the country.
