NEW DELHI: Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today remained non-committal on cutting excise duty on petrol and diesel, which have touched record highs, saying merely that the Government is keeping a close watch on the situation.
Petrol price rose to Rs 71.56 per litre in Delhi today, the highest since August 2014. Rates in Mumbai are almost touching Rs 80.
Diesel prices soared to their highest level of Rs 62.25 per litre in Delhi. It is being sold at Rs 66.30 in Mumbai, where the local sales tax or VAT rates are higher.
At an industry event, replying to reporters’ questions on rising fuel prices, Pradhan said the Centre had in October cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre.
Some states had followed it by reducing VAT. “Some others are yet to do that. I would urge states to reduce taxes,” he said.
Asked if the Centre would cut excise duty, he said, “We are keeping a close watch on the pricing situation.”
He said it was not under his Ministry’s purview to revises taxes. “It comes under Finance Ministry,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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