'Positive decision' soon in MP over fuel VAT cut: Minister

The Madhya Pradesh government today indicated that it may soon provide relief to the people of the state by reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel on the lines of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh.
"Wait for two more days. The decision in this regard (about reducing the VAT on petrol and diesel) will be taken after deliberations," state Finance and Commercial Tax Minister Jayant Malaiya told reporters here today.
"Don't worry. Definitely, a positive decision will be taken in this matter," he said in response to a query if the state government would reduce VAT on fuel.
On October 5, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had appealed to all the states to cut tax rates on petrol and diesel.

If Madhya Pradesh reduces VAT on petrol and diesel, it would make a big dent in the government's tax collection.
Two months back, Malaiya had told reporters that the revenue that the state government earns from VAT or other taxes on petroleum products is about 35 per cent of the total revenue of the state.
He had also informed that in the 2016-17 fiscal, the collection of commercial taxes in the state was about Rs 29,500 crore.