Meghalaya: Mawlai MLA urges roll-back on hike of petrol price
SHILLONG: Terming the demand of the Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles (MJACCV) as a ‘genuine one’, Mawlai legislator, Process T. Sawkmie today urged upon the State Government to reduce the taxes on petrol and diesel.
“The State Government in 2018 had reduced the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 paisa. I will urge the government to adopt similar measures to ease the problem of the commercial vehicle drivers and owners,” Sawkmie stated here today.
The Mawlai legislator hopes that the Agricultural Infrastructure and Development CESS of Rs 2.5 per litre on petrol and Rs 4 on diesel which was proposed in the Union Budget 2021-2022 would not affect the price of petrol and diesel in the state.
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“If this proposal in the Union Budget is going to have an impact in the State, then it would mean that the price of petrol and diesel would be further increase,” he said.
He further urged the government to reduce the taxes which are required to be paid by the commercial vehicles in view of imposing the odd and even number formula in view of the COVID-19 restrictions.
“The commercial vehicles could ply only 12 days a month in view of the restrictions. The reduction in the payment of taxes would provide the much needed respite to the commercial vehicle owners,” Mawlai legislator said.
Meanwhile, the MJACCV has decided to continue with their indefinite strike on Thursday since the State Government is yet to respond to their various demands.
It may be mentioned that the Joint Action Committee in the memorandum submitted to the Government had stated that unless the state government allowed revision of taxi fares as proposed by the commercial vehicles owners, they would be left with no other option but to resort to indefinite strike.
