After Centre, BJP-ruled Haryana, Himachal cut fuel rates further

In a major relief to the common man, BJP-ruled Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have cut fuel rates by reducing the value-added tax (VAT) after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel on Diwali eve

In a major relief to the common man, BJP-ruled Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have cut fuel rates by reducing the value-added tax (VAT) after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel on Diwali eve.

The Union finance ministry had on Wednesday announced a ₹5 per litre cut in excise duty on petrol and a ₹10 per litre cut in excise duty on diesel. (Representational photo)

“Due to the reduction in VAT rates by the state government, the prices of both petrol and diesel have been reduced by ₹12 per litre,” Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar tweeted.

Haryana additional chief secretary, excise and taxation, Anurag Rastogi said that the reduction in VAT on petrol and diesel meant a per litre decrease of ₹7 in petrol and ₹2 in diesel. “Thus, the total decrease is ₹12 per litre each for petrol and diesel,” he said. Before reduction in taxes a litre of petrol cost ₹106.94, while it now costs ₹94.93 a litre. Similarly, a litre of diesel cost ₹98.60 till Diwali eve and is now available for ₹86.57 per litre .

A notification issued by neighbouring Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday said that VAT on petrol and diesel has been cut by 7.5% and 8%, respectively. “Petrol will be cheaper by ₹12 and diesel by ₹17 per litre in the state,” chief minister Jai Ram Thakur tweeted.

Before the cut, petrol cost ₹101.88 a litre, while now it costs ₹95.97. A litre of diesel cost ₹88.64 earlier and now costs ₹80.54 per litre.

The Centre had reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel on Diwali eve to bring down the prices of the two petroleum products that had crossed the ₹100 per litre mark.

Inflation hit BJP campaign in byelections

VAT rates differ from state to state, leading to differential rates of fuel. The Centre had urged the states to slash VAT rates to provide relief.

The opposition and public had hit out at the central and state governments during the recent byelections, where inflation and infighting plagued the BJP campaign.

Region fuel rate check before and after Diwali

PUNJAB

Petrol (per litre): Before ₹112.14 After ₹106.20

Diesel (per litre): Before ₹101.66 After ₹89.83

HARYANA

Petrol: Before ₹106.94 After ₹94.93

Diesel: Before ₹98.60 After ₹86.57

CHANDIGARH

Petrol: Before ₹105.24 After ₹94.23

Diesel: Before ₹98.16 After ₹80.90

HIMACHAL

Petrol: Before ₹101.88 After ₹95.97

Diesel: Before ₹88.64 After ₹80.54

J&K

Petrol: Before ₹113 After ₹100.29

Diesel: Before ₹102 After ₹90.30.