Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who presented the Rs 13,331-crore worth budget as against the Rs 10,540 crore in the previous fiscal, hiked the VAT on petrol from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
The state government's decision is in stark contrast with the promise made by the ruling BJP during its poll campaign.
The BJP government, after assuming power in the state, had abolished VAT on petrol, slashing the price by Rs 11 per litre.
The Chief Minister said that the state will earn additional revenue of Rs 100 crore annually with the increase in VAT on petrol.
"I know I might attract criticism for increasing the VAT, but the increase have been done with the intention that it won't affect common man," he added.
