Summary:
RANDHI: Jharkhand government on Thursday afternoon announced to waive off Rs 2.50 in price of a litre of diesel. However, no announcements were made on waiving taxes on petrol.Chief minister Raghubar Das issued a statement saying: “After Center, the state has also decided to waive Rs 2.50 in taxes levied on diesel. Likewise VAT on a liter of diesel is 22% or Rs 8.37, whichever higher.Though Jharkhand Petroleum Dealers Association (JPDA) on Thursday said it was happy with Center and the state’s decision to slash taxes on diesel, reducing petrol prices would have further given relief to common people. The Indian Oil Corporation Limited is charging Rs 79.63 for a liter of diesel in Ranchi while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is charging Rs 79.68.The state government currently charges 22% value added tax (VAT) on a liter of petrol or Rs 15, whichever is higher. Instructions have been issued to state commercial taxes secretary KK Khandelwal to take necessary steps in this regard.”The waiver by state government, combined with the relaxation announced by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley , is likely to reduce diesel prices by Rs 5 on each liter in Jharkhand..