GUWAHATI: Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that the additional tax of Rs 5 per litre imposed on petrol and diesel and 25% excise duty on liquor during the Covid-19 pandemic peak have been withdrawn, while seeking the vote on accounts in the assembly ahead of the assembly election.
The additional cess on the three commodities were imposed in April. “Hence, petrol and diesel will become cheaper by Rs 5 per litre with effect from midnight tonight benefiting lakhs of consumers across Assam. Similarly, the additional cess imposed on various liquor categories during last year, averaging around 25%, has also been withdrawn,” Sarma said in the House.
“Now, the pandemic has declined to a reasonable extent, the number of patients has reduced and the need for Covid-19 screening centres has also gone down. As such, the expenditure on healthcare sector has substantially come down. Hence, the state cabinet has decided to withdraw the additional cess and taxes imposed during the Covid-19 period,” Sarma said in his speech.