Transporters urge Govt to reduce fuel prices
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 31 2021: Consequent to the general notification issued by the state's Finance Department on August 19 inviting suggestions from the public over lowering of VAT on petrol and diesel, various transport societies on Tuesday wrote to the state government for lowering VAT further from the proposed rate.

According to the government notification, the state government proposed to lower the VAT on high-speed diesel from 22.5 to 18 per cent and for petrol, from 36.5 to 32 percent.

In this regard, Scheduled Caste-Tribe Imphal-Senapati-Transport Co-operative Society Limited submitted a letter to the under secretary of the Finance Department on Tuesday appreciating the government's decision to lower the taxes.

However, if the state government were to lower the taxes to the rates fixed for Meghalaya and Assam, it would help alleviate the difficulties of the transporters, not to mention of helping the state government in earning more revenue from fuel.

Comparing the fuel prices in Manipur with that of other states, the Society pointed out that in Assam, petrol is sold at Rs 99.33 per litre and diesel at Rs 88.29 per litre; in Nagaland, petrol at Rs 100.99 per litre and diesel at Rs 91 per litre; in Meghalaya, petrol at Rs 96.70 per litre and diesel at Rs 88.04 per litre, while in Manipur, petrol is sold at Rs 106.7 per litre and diesel at Rs 93.09 per litre.

The state government has proposed to lower the prices on petrol to Rs 102.90 per litre and diesel to Rs 90 per litre.

However, the proposed prices are still not at par with that of other states.

Stating that transporters are facing hard time due the unequal fuel prices, the Society remarked that owing to the high taxes, the revenue which should have been earned by the state government is being enjoyed by the other states.

As such, it urged the government to take a detailed look into the matter.

Ukhrul Transport Bus Owners' Association, Ukhrul; United Bus Owners' Welfare Association Manipur; Assam Rifles Public School Van Services Association and Imphal-Churachandpur Road Bus Owners' and Workers' Association have also expressed their opinions in writing to the under secretary of the Finance Department, urging the state government to lower the VAT on petrol and diesel to 32 and 18 per cent respectively.

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