Odisha raises VAT on petrol and diesel

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar: Naveen Patnaik Government Tuesday increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel by three percent attracting strong criticism from the opposition parties as well as the common people.The hike came into effect from past midnight after the State government’s finance department issued a notification on Monday stating that the VAT on petrol and diesel would be 26 per cent from earlier rate of 23 per cent. As a result, petrol and diesel across the state will cost more by Rs.1.39 per litre and Rs.1.14 per litre respectively.Odisha Finance Minister Pradip Amat justified the hike saying that the State’s revenue collection was badly hit due to frequent decline in the prices of petrol and diesel in the recent months. The government went for increasing VAT in order to keep a balance in revenue collection of the State, he added.Odisha government will get additional revenue of Rs.361 crore per annum by increasing VAT by 3 per cent on fuel.Meanwhile, opposition Congress and BJP came down heavily on the government and termed the decision anti-people.Talking to journalists at Congress Bhavan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan demanded immediate rollback of the decision in order to save the common man.Leader of BJP Legislature Party in the State Assembly Basanta Panda also demanded a rollback of the VAT hike on fuel.