Lockdown: Assam hikes fuel prices

Guwahati, Apr 22 () Assam has increased fuel pricessteeply to cover "some of the losses" incurred due to thenationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novelcoronavirus, Finance and Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarmasaid on Wednesday.

The price of petrol increased from Rs 71.61 to Rs77.46 per litre and of diesel from Rs 65.07 to Rs 70.50 perlitre.

The revised rates will be effective from April 22midnight.

Sarma told a press conference that the increase infuel prices is a temporary measure and "the pain has to beborne by all.

"Once the coronavirus ends, we will review it again."

The state government was losing revenue as fuelpurchase by consumers had come down drastically and "we had toincrease the prices to cover some of the losses", Sarma said.

"We will be doubly hit as international prices havecome down and our royalty from OIL India and ONGC will alsocome down drastically. Besides, fuel sale in the state hasalmost been negligible.

"Earlier our monthly dues as royalty was Rs 166 crorebut now we will get around Rs 50 crore and so we are trying toprotect our revenue by hiking the prices," he said.

Assam government had issued a notification on Tuesdayincreasing the rates of tax on diesel by "23.66 paise in therupee or Rs 17.45 per litre whichever is higher" and in thecase of petrol and motor spirits by "32.66 paise in the rupeeor Rs 22.63 per litre, whichever is higher". DGMM MM