The Meghalaya organization has written a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to take action on fuel prices

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council said the rise in fuel prices was driving up transportation costs across the state. This will directly or indirectly affect the prices of essential commodities.

Shillong: Fearing a further hike in fuel prices in Meghalaya, social organization Hinwtrap Youth Council (HYC) has written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma urging him to take up the issue of the hike with the appropriate authority.

HYC general secretary Roy Sinrem said on Saturday that the increase in fuel prices is adding to the transportation cost across the state. This will directly or indirectly affect the prices of essential commodities.

He also said that almost every single commodity in the state is transported by road, transportation cost is embedded in all the costs. This, in turn, will affect all sections of the society, especially the farmers of the state.

“At a time when the entire world including our state is seriously affected by Covid-19, it is a matter of great concern that the central and state governments are putting a huge burden on the people by increasing the fuel prices through taxes. The increased fuel prices have a cascading effect on the prices of all items of daily use,” Synrem said through a press statement.

Worried about the increase, the organization has urged the Meghalaya government to “take a conscious decision to ease the suffering of the people” by reducing VAT on the sale of petrol and diesel by 50% from the current rate.

“While international crude oil prices determine the cost of fuel in India, it is only one factor that contributes to the rise in petrol and diesel prices. The main reason for the hike in prices is taxes from the central and state governments,” he said.

The HYC general secretary said that at present the central government is charging around Rs 32-33 per liter of petrol as excise duty and the VAT levied by the state government is around Rs 22-23 per liter of petrol.

For diesel fuel, the excise duty is around Rs 31-32 per liter and Rs 13-14 per liter is charged as VAT by the respective state governments.

“If we take both the taxes together, it can be said that the motorist has to pay about 55% and about 50% respectively as taxes for petrol and diesel every time the tank is filled. Wallet-busting fuel prices are the main reason in our state too,” said Synrem.

It is noteworthy that on Friday, the price of petrol in the state had reached Rs 100.

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