Meghalaya govt increases taxes on auto fuel; petrol to cost Rs 74.90 per litre, diesel at Rs 67.50

Shillong: The Meghalaya government has increased taxes on petrol and diesel from Wednesday amid the nationwide lockdown and plunging crude oil prices, officials said on Wednesday. A litre of petrol now costs Rs 74.9 while the price of diesel becomes Rs 67.5, they said. “The new rate of tax for petrol is 31 percent or Rs 17.6 per litre and 22.5 percent for diesel or Rs 12.5 per litre,” a government notification said. [caption id=“attachment_4222823” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters.[/caption] According to the officials, 2 percent sales tax surcharge will also be levied on both petrol and diesel. The price hike of the fuel triggered outrage from the opposition party Congress which said people will face hardship due to the move. Click here to follow LIVE news and updates on stock markets Congress MLA and former minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “When international oil prices have fallen, we do not understand the need for the hike in taxes on petrol and diesel.” The common people will be bearing the brunt of it as prices of essential commodities will increase, she said. She also said the state government should rollback the tax hike.