Mizoram: No reduction in fuel prices despite protests

Aizawl: Despite protests from commercial vehicle owners, Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma has said that the state government will not reduce fuel prices but continue with the existing prices, which were hiked from September.

Speaking to reporters in Aizawl on Thursday, the chief minister said that the meeting of the council of ministers held on Wednesday re-affirmed that the existing prices of petrol and diesel, which came into effect on September 1, will continue to be used. 

He said that the government hiked VAT on petrol from 5.23% to 10% and on diesel from 16.36% to 18%, which came into effect from September 1. 

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Apart from the VAT hike, the government also imposed a new levy of Rs 2 per litre on both diesel and petrol for social infrastructure and services cess, alongside an additional Rs 2 per litre for road maintenance, he said. 

With the hike in VAT and additional levies, the prices of petrol have risen from Rs. 93.93 to Rs. 99.24 per litre and that of diesel from Rs. 82.62  to Rs. 88.02 per litre.

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He said that under the social infrastructure and services cess, 25 per each of the revenue received from oil will be used for human resources development, development of wellness infrastructures, skill development and women-centric projects. 

The chief minister urged the people, particularly commercial vehicle owners, to understand the motive behind the government's decision as the hike was for the welfare and benefit of the people. 

He claimed that despite the recent VAT hike and new cess, the current prices remain lower than the pre-COVID period and three northeastern states- Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland now levy higher prices than Mizoram. 

Earlier, Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU) had threatened to go on strike for an indefinite period starting from October 14 demanding a reduction in fuel prices.

However, the union withdrew its plan after Lalduhom assured them of positive action and requested them to wait till the cabinet meeting.

A leader of MCVU said that they will soon convene a meeting to decide their future course of action.