Regular petrol tops Rs 100/litre for 1st time, in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar
NEW DELHI: The price of regular petrol consumed by the masses shot up to Rs 100.13 a litre in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar on Wednesday, the first time an automotive fuel has crossed the Rs 100-mark anywhere in the country. In other states, the prices mostly ruled above Rs 90 a litre mark as high central and state taxes bumped up the impact of rising crude prices.
Diesel prices too made a record at Rs 92.1 a litre in Sri Ganganagar, while generally raging well above Rs 80 per litre in other states. Unmoved by these record prices, the Centre has ruled out any tax cut and is blaming oil exporters for jacking up crude prices.
This is unlike in October 2018, when, after petrol price rose to Rs 84 a litre and diesel Rs 75.45 in Delhi, the Centre had reduced excise duty by Rs 2 per litre on October 4 and by Rs 1.5 the next day.
Some 18 states also reduced VAT at Centre’s behest. Consumers in Rajasthan pay more than others because the state has the highest tax on petrol and diesel.
High taxes imposed by the Centre and states are a major reason behind the soaring prices of fuel, which in turn pushes upwards the price of food, vegetables and other essential commodities. In times when the economy is down in the dumps, the government must reduce taxes on petroleum products to reduce the problems of ordinary citizen.
After reducing VAT by 2% last month, it charges 36% VAT and road cess of Rs 1,500 per kilolitre on petrol. Diesel attracts 26% VAT and road cess of Rs 1,750 per kilolitre.
