CNCCI asks govt to reduce fuel prices

February 18, 2021 42 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, FEB 17 (NPN): Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI) has expressed its dismay at the State government’s failure to act on the issue of high fuel prices in Nagaland by reviewing and reducing them.

As fuel prices determined every economic activity, the trade body said other neighbouring States of Assam and Meghalaya had felt the hardship of their citizens and business community and acted accordingly.

However, CNCCI chairman Dr Khekugha Muru and general secretary Dr Seyievilie Mor said they were baffled as to why the State government was not responding on a similar manner of reviewing and reducing fuel prices in Nagaland. Due to high fuel prices, the business community was facing worst its nightmares like never before, compounded further by poor roads in the State

While cost of transportation of goods almost doubled over the last couple of months, especially to other districts, the body pointed out that even passenger transport has become more expensive with fares being continuously hiked, and there’s no clue of they going down any sooner.

Further, CNCCI feared that, with huge price difference with neighbouring States, even fuel retailers in Nagaland would lose business to these States, which would result in revenue loss for the Nagaland government in terms of VAT collection. It urged the State government to understand the hardship particularly faced by the business community and public in general.

The trade body also shared a comparative price chart that showed that while diesel and petrol were being sold at Kohima at Rs 83.60 and Rs 92.86 respectively on Wednesday, the prices for the same were Rs 79.34 and Rs 86.04 respectively at Shillong, and Rs 80.61 and Rs 86.43 respectively at Guwahati. Hence, it was plain and simple why every activity and commodity was becoming dearer and livelihood was badly affected. With the high fuel prices adversely hindering economic progress and business activities in the State, CNCCI demanded that the government perform its responsibility by reviewing the fuel prices at the earliest.

The trade body further demanded that carrying capacity of commercial passenger vehicles be immediately reviewed by allowing them to ply at full capacity for bringing down fares in line with the recent listed activities that have been allowed, as the existing SOP was practically impossible to maintain in mountainous roads.

Fuel prices rise for ninth day

Petrol and diesel prices climbed to fresh high across India Wednesday after the state-owned oil marketing companies hiked fuel rates for the ninth day in a row. Petrol and diesel prices were increased by 25 paise per litre each. After Wednesday’s price increase, petrol in the national capital Delhi cost Rs 89.54 per litre and diesel Rs 79.95 per litre.

In Dimapur, petrol price increased to Rs.91.96 per litre and diesel price rose to Rs.82.89 per litre. In the state capital Kohima, petrol and diesel prices climbed to fresh highs of Rs.92.88 per litre and Rs.83.62 per litre respectively.

Central and state taxes make up for 60 per cent of the retail selling price of petrol and over 54 per cent of diesel. The union government levies Rs 32.90 per litre of excise duty on petrol and Rs 31.80 a litre on diesel.

Petrol crosses Rs. 100-mark in Raj: For the first time ever, the price of petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajasthan Wednesday. In Sriganganagar town of Rajasthan, petrol price soared to Rs 100.13 a litre on Wednesday.

Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT and freight charges. Rajasthan levies the highest VAT on petrol in the country.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/cncci-asks-govt-to-reduce-fuel-prices/228974.html