Mumbai: The state government will reduce fuel prices by reducing state taxes, if the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council does not take a decision to bring fuel prices under the GST on September 28, said finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Amid a growing chorus to bring down fuel prices, Mr Munganti-war said on Wednesday that the state would lose revenue to the tune of Rs 2,200 crore per year if it slashes the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 1 per litre. The government had already slashed taxes on petrol and diesel to check the-ir surging prices at the state level. He claimed the government is in the favour of bringing petrol and diesel under the ambit of the GST, but the Congress-led governments are agai-nst such a move. “The next meeting of the GST Council is scheduled for September 28,” he said.
“Maharashtra brou-ght down taxes on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per and Rs 1 per litre respectively in October last year, whereas stat-es such as Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have cut their taxes recently,” he said when asked if there was any delay on the part of the government in slashing the taxes.
Mr Mungantiwar blamed “global forces” for the unabated surge in prices of fuel in the country. Petrol prices crossed the Rs 90 mark in more than 20 of Maharashtra’s 36 districts. He said the rising prices are a matter of concern for citizens as well as the state government.
“The Maharashtra government is in the favour of bringing petrol and diesel under the ambit of the GST, but the Congress which is heading governments in some states is against this move. “These states think they may lose their financial independence if fuel is brought under the GST,” he said.
He added that Maharashtra gets 26 per cent in taxes from the retail sale of petrol. When asked about the prevailing prices of petrol and diesel across country, he said, “Maharashtra is one of the five states where the prices of petrol are the highest. In the case of diesel, Maharashtra is among eight states where prices are the steepest.”
