TIRUCHIRAPALLI
Budget 2019
The Hindu on 6.7.2019 Trichy
Hike in petrol levy draws consumers ire
Special CorrespondentTIRUCHI
JULY 05, 2019 19:07 IST
UPDATED: JULY 05, 2019 19:07 IST
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s decision to raise the special additional excise duty and road cess on petrol and diesel by ₹1 per litre has drawn sharp reactions from consumer organisations.
Expressing surprise over the move, S. Pushpavanam, Secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, felt that the additional levy has come at a time when there was scope for reduction.
V. Maheswaran, president, Tiruchi District Consumer Movement, condemned the hike in the levy and called upon the Finance Minister to withdraw the move. He also demanded that petrol, diesel and cooking gas be brought under the purview of GST.
Mr. Pushpavanam also observed that the hike in the Customs duty on gold would only lead to an increase in smuggling of the precious metal.
However, he welcomed the efforts to attract foreign direct investment in airline, media and insurance sectors. The focus on improving suburban railway infrastructure is welcome as it was long over due. The public-private model in rail transport will work only if the Railways’ accounting system falls in line with the rest of the Corporate entities, he said and also appreciated the thrust on inland waterways.
Mr. Pushpavanam regretted that the time-lines have not been specified for several projects such as providing electricity to every rural family and clean fuel. Creating ‘Gandhipaedia’ was a good idea, he added.
M. A. Aleem, Member, Tiruchi District Welfare Fund Committee, welcomed the focus on improving ease of living and move to provide toilets for all under Swachh Bharat Mission
No comments:
Post a Comment