Chandigarh likely to reduce VAT on petrol, diesel by Rs 7

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

After the Central Government reduced the excise duty on petrol by Rs 5 and on diesel by Rs 10, city consumers are likely to get further relief, as the UT Administration is likely to reduce the state VAT on petrol and diesel by Rs 7.

Diesel was sold at Rs98.16 per litre and petrol at Rs105.94 per litre in the city today. The petrol price had breached the Rs100 mark in the city on October 10. However, fuel prices in Chandigarh are still a notch below than the prices in the neighbouring states.

‘Some Respite for common man’

The decision taken by the Centre and likely reduction in the VAT will definitely provide some respite to the common man who has been hit hard by high prices of petrol and diesel. Maninder Singh, Sector 13 resident

On the eve of Diwali, the Centre has announced a reduction in the excise duty charged on petrol and diesel and the new prices will be effective from November 4. The Centre also urged the state governments and union territories to commensurately reduce the VAT on petrol and diesel to give relief to the consumers.

A senior UT official said the Administration was also planning to reduce the state VAT on fossil fuel by Rs7 and the order in this regard would be issued soon.

In May last year, the UT Administration had increased the VAT on fuel by 5 per cent.

Maninder Singh, a resident of Sector 13, said the decision taken by the Central Government and likely reduction in the VAT by the UT Administration would definitely provide some respite to the common man who has been hit hard by high prices of petrol and diesel, as inflation was at all-time high.