Central Government lowers Fuel price on the occasion of Diwali by Rs 5 on Petrol and Rs10 on Diesel: In Arunachal's Perspective

By Jon Pebi Tato

NATION: Central government has interestingly paved in a step to cut excise duty on the petrol and diesel by records amount of Rs.5 and Rs.10, respectively, per litre, to bring down their rates from the persisting record-breaking Centurian rates which devasted the sleepless night of layman who put their nose to the grindstone.

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On Wednesday 3rd of November, Announcing the decision, a government statement said, " the Centre had urged the states to commensurately (in an equivalent measure) reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to give relief to consumers".

The decision to reduce the price of the fuel was widespread across the states, especially in the NDA led government, however, the state of Arunachal Pradesh didn't respond to it on the eve of Diwali. The citizens in the Itanagar Capital Region kept awaiting a response from the state government to act further on the centre's decision to cut duties on the fuel price.

The SPACE on an interview with the Rajdhani Indian oil Depot, Naharlagun, was informed that the depot in the ICR had received the notification to lower the price on Thursday morning at 6:00 am, dated 4th November 2021.

"Central government se agar order denese toh state ko manna hi parega" stated

Further the Market Officer (MO) Shri Nabin Tage informed the SPACE that, "we have lowered the fuel price in the state as per the central's decision"

In a further Interview, Tage stated that "Our state government has not decreased the Value Added Tax (VAT), but we have lowered the price only because of the central's decision to cut excise duty on the fuel".

The MO explained, "The VAT is levied by the state whereas the Excise duty is levied by the central government and when the Central cuts on excise duty it is for the entire nation, and Arunachal is not an exception"

No day or date has been asserted  by the Government of India for the duration of lowered price.

However,  the Reserve Bank of India has been mooting fuel tax cuts since February this year in a bid to cool down persistently high inflation and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had defended the high taxation saying there is no assurance that the States would cut duties if the Centre did so and called for a coordinated approach.

On Wednesday when the Government decided to cut the excise duty, the Finance Ministry said the reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel ‘on the eve of Diwali’ would boost consumption and keep the inflation low, helping the poor and middle classes.

"Diwali kelie kam kia toh kabtak karega humlogko idea nai he" added Diben from Rajdhani Petrol Depot, Naharlagun.

The price of Diesel was Rs.94.85, and petrol  Rs.101.82 respectively, as of 3rd November 2021, and currently the Price has been lowered to Rs. 83.53 for diesel and 96.22 for petrol.

The diesel has witnessed a deduction of Rs.11.53, and the petrol of Rs.5.6 respectively.

The social media reports have shown that after the central government's decision to bring down the fule price, almost all the BJP ruled states have followed accordingly, however, the opposition slammed the government claiming its a cheap stunt and the government should rather bring down the price to the 2014 level.

"excise duty has been subsumed by the Goods and Service Tax (GST) along with other indirect taxes,& hence when the government lowers the excise duty, it has an implication on the entire state". added MO Shri Nabin Tage while speaking to the SPACE.

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Jon Pebi Tato, Managing Editor,The SPACE