Ranchi: On December 21, jharkhand petroleum dealers association has announced a complete closure of all petrol pumps in the state. The association is demanding reduction in VAT rates on petrol and diesel in the state. On the other hand, the State Government in response to a question by an MLA in the current winter session of the Assembly has made it clear that there is no proposal under consideration for decline in VAT on his behalf.

Ashok Kumar Singh, President, Jharkhand Petroleum Dealers Association said that we had met the Finance Minister of the state government and submitted a memorandum in this regard but no action has been taken so far. Jharkhand has 1400 petrol pumps, directly 2. More than 50 lakh families have their livelihood staked out. The high RATES of VAT are not only affecting the business but also causing problems to the common citizens.

He said that after the reduction in excise tax by the Central Government, most of the states have reduced their taxes on petroleum products, but there has been no initiative from the Government of Jharkhand. In February 2015, the then Government of Jharkhand raised the VAT rate on petroleum products from 18 per cent to 22 per cent, since then the business in the state has been weakening. The association demands that vat rates on petrol and diesel in the state should be reduced from 22 per cent to 17 per cent. On this issue, since 11th December, the Association launched a janjagran abhiyan asking the people what was the loss being caused to the state and the consumer due to non-reduction of VAT. As the state government did not comply with the demands, a strike will be put up at all petrol pumps in the state on December 21 by putting up a board of 'No Pamphlet-No Sale'.

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