Himachal Pradesh state government has issued a notification imposing an orphan and widow cess of 60 paise per litre on petrol and diesel. The revised prices came into effect from midnight yesterday.
According to the notification issued by the State Taxes and Excise Department, the cess has been imposed under Section 6-A of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2005, on the first sale of petrol and high-speed diesel at the point of first sale.
The revenue generated through the cess will be used to strengthen welfare schemes being implemented for orphaned children and widows.
BJP State Chief Spokesperson and MLA Rakesh Jamwal has termed the Congress government’s decision to impose a 60-paise-per-litre orphan and widow cess on petrol and high-speed diesel as anti-people. He said that in a hilly state like Himachal Pradesh, an increase in diesel prices does not affect only vehicle owners.
Almost all essential commodities in the state are transported by road. Therefore, higher fuel prices will also put pressure on transportation costs of cement, steel, sand and gravel, fruits and vegetables, ration and other essential commodities.