MLAs express concern over fuel prices rise

Even as members in the State Assembly belonging to all parties on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the rising petrol and diesel prices that has impacted transport cost and affected common people in many ways, the State Government insisted that the retail prices of fuels can only be reduced if the Centre cuts excise and additional taxes.

Participating in an Adjournment Motion, Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipti said both the BJP Government at the Centre and the BJD Government in the State are responsible for the ever-increasing fuel prices.

“During the UPA Government, when petrol was selling at Rs 48 and diesel at Rs 38.29, an increase of 50 paise was being protested by both the BJP and the BJD. While the Narendra Modi Government has betrayed common people, the BJD’s voice has been low even as the price of fules has been skyrocketed despite a sharp decline in the prices of crude oils in the international market,” he said and demanded that the State Government soon slash its VAT at least by 50 per cent so that people of the State in general and farmers in particular can get reliefs.

Other two Congress members Kailash Chandra Kulesika and Bhujabal Majhi too made the same demand.

However, BJP members Pradeep Purohit and Basant Panda claimed that revenue being collected from petrol and diesel are being utilised for developmental programmes. They said the NDA Government has provided adequate amounts of funds to Odisah during the last four years and the amount is more that it received during the UPA Government in 10 years.

But BJD members including Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpahty, Mahesh Sahu and Bed Prakash Agrawal contended that petrol and diesel can be included in GST if BJP-ruled 22 States intend so. They said Odisha Government is taking 26 per cent VAT, which is lower than the rates being taken by many BJP-ruled States.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra wanted to know why the State Government proposing to include petrol and diesel in the Goods and Services Tax system under which a very low tax rate would be imposed on the two fuels. He criticised the BJD and the BJP for blaming each other and not taking steps to lessen prices.

In his reply, Finance Minister Shashi Bhushan Behra said, “The Centre has increased taxes like excise tax, additional excise tax and cess nine times. Now, the Union Government is taking Rs 19.48 on litre of petrol compared to Rs 9.47 in 2014. Similarly, it is collecting Rs 15.33 on a litre of diesel compared to Rs 3.56 in 2014. If it slashes taxes, the fuel prices will be lessened across the country.”

Stating that the Odisha Government is imposing 26 per cent VAT on petrol and diesel, he said the rate of VAT is higher in many other States. While petrol is selling at Rs 72.67 per litre, it is Re 82.35 in Maharashtra, Rs 80.05 in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 80 in Bihar, Rs 75.73 in Lucknow, Rs 74.94 in Raipur, Rs 74.50 in New Delhi and Rs 73.81 in Gujarat, he said.