Panaji: With Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and his team of advisors at the helm of affairs, Goa’s economy will further deteriorate instead of recovering said GPCC President Girish Chodankar while reacting to increase of VAT on diesel by Goa government in silent mode.
Chodankar said when Goa is struggling for economic revival and when diesel prices has cascading effect on economy, Goa CM could have avoided the increase in prices soon after the Central government raised excise duties by Rs 10 per litre on petrol and Rs 13 per litre on diesel.
Chodankar said the state economy is at all time low, adding that petrol consumption is down by 75% and diesel by 60% in Goa.
He questioned how an increase in VAT can increase Government revenue when consumption of petroleum products is down and wheels of Economy is striving to move.
Practically government should have encouraged consumption of diesel for the purpose of transportation of people, goods, raw materials and secondly it is the agricultural season farmers should have been encouraged with subsidised on diesel rates.
Chodankar reminded BJP government that they had promised through its manifesto to freeze petrol prices at Rs.60 by abolishing VAT in Goa.
Chodankar also said, in Global market oil basket for Indian Oil Companies is 23.38 US Dollar per barrel ie Rs. 1,772 per barrel. We all know that one barrel has 159 litres that means the cost per litre today is Rs. 11.14 per litre and selling price of petrol is Rs. 68.32/- per litre and diesel is 64.87/- per litre in Goa.
We once again demand that till the economy gets normal, Goa government should bring VAT to ZERO by abolishing VAT as was promised earlier. Presently in Goa VAT on petrol is 25% while on diesel is 22%. He also said central government has collected taxes of Rs. 17 lakh Cr since BJP came to power in 2014 by looting common man.
