Odisha govt to take call on inclusion of petrol,diesel under

The Odisha government today said it would take a decision over inclusion of petrol and diesel under purview of Goods and Services Tax (GST) when such a proposal is brought by the GST council.

This was stated by Odisha's Finance Minister S B Behera while replying to a debate in the Assembly on an adjournment motion.

"The state government will take a decision whether the petrol and diesel be included under the purview of the GST only after such a proposal is brought in the GST Council headed by Union Finance Minister," Behera informed the House.

Behera said this referring to opposition Congress and BJP members suggestions to the state government to bring petrol and diesel under purview of the GST in order to reduce the price of fuel.

The Finance Minister said that the Empowered Committee comprising finance ministers of different states had decided to keep six items including petrol, diesel and liquor out of the GST purview. GST was rolled out across the country from July 1 last year.

The Finance Minister, on the other hand suggested the Central government to reduce the rate of central excise and additional taxes on petrol and diesel in order to give relief to the people across the country.

He pointed out that the central government has been collecting Rs 48.33 per litre of petrol which is Rs 10 more than in comparison to the 2014 petrol price.

The finance minister also claimed that Odisha collects only 26 per cent of VAT while the rate of VAT on petrol and diesel in other states are much higher.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, however, blamed both the BJP led Central government and BJD government in Odisha for the miseries of people due to unprecedented hike in the price of petol and diesel. "Both the govenrment should find a way out to give relief to the people," Mishra said