As Diesel gets costlier than Petrol, Dharmendra asks Odisha Govt to slash VAT on Fuel

ONI Bureau:  With diesel becoming costlier than petrol in Odisha, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan today blamed State Government for not reducing value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.

Pradhan today said that the fluctuation in fuel prices is happening only because the State is not reducing VAT on the fuels.

So far, around 20 States including 13 BJP ruling states have reduced VAT, however, Odisha had not yet reduced the VAT on petrol and diesel.

Earlier, Odisha goverment received Rs 3,000 crore as tax but with an increase in tax, the State Government is collecting a huge amount of Rs 7000 crore VAT from Petroleum products, said Pradhan.

Worth mentioning, Petrol & diesel prices in the state capital today stood at Rs 80.27 per litre and Rs Rs 80.40 per litre respectively.