Citizens demand withdrawal of Rs 3 surcharge on petro products

Citizens demand withdrawal of Rs 3 surcharge on petro products

Pune: With the lifting of the ban on the sale of liquor on highways within municipal limits, numerous citizens are seeking abolition of the Rs 3 surcharge announced on petroleum products by the Maharashtra government. 

In April this year, the State government had levied the surcharge on Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to compensate for losses in revenue following the liquor ban.

The State Excise Department incurred huge losses in light of the liquor ban along highways announced by the Supreme Court, due to which the surcharge was levied on the sale of petroleum products. With liquor vends within municipal limits re-opening, people are demanding the abolition of the surcharge, which will make petrol products cheaper by Rs 3. 

Speaking to Sakal Times, All India Petrol Dealers Association (AIPDA) spokesperson Ali Daruwalla said, “AIPDA has demanded that the Maharashtra government withdraw with immediate effect, the Rs 3 surcharge on petroleum products, which it levied since April 1, 2017, to compensate the loss it was incurring due to the ban on sale of alcohol within 500 metres of state or national highways.”

He said since the Supreme Court has clarified that liquor can be sold on highways within municipal limits, the Rs 3 surcharge must be lifted. 

“The common man is directly affected due to the high prices of petrol. Also, diesel is an essential commodity and if the diesel prices escalate, rates of transportation, food grains and vegetables also get affected. Now, that the State government will generate revenue from the re-opened liquor vends and restaurants, they must withdraw the surcharge,” Daruwalla said. 

Daruwalla said petrol pumps in the border areas of the State are worst affected due to the excess surcharges. “The rates of petroleum products are much lower in neighbouring states and people along these areas travel to the neighbouring state to fill up their tanks, thus, affecting the pumps in border areas,” he said. 

The State government had also introduced a Rs 3 drought cess in 2015 which should be abolished too. “The price of petroleum products is the highest in Maharashtra and that is burning a hole in citizens’ pockets. The drought cess and the surcharge on petroleum products following the liquor ban must be abolished as these are essential commodities used by all sections of the population,” he said. 

City-based professional Prasanna Parmar said it is now time that the government stops passing on the burden of their losses to the common man. “The government repeatedly increases the surcharge on petroleum products to compensate for its losses.

They should now also pass on the benefits of the lifting of the liquor ban to citizens. It is not prudent to let the common man suffer exorbitant prices as the entire value chain gets affected due to the prices of petrol and diesel,” he said. 
 

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