Maharashtra; Petrol, diesel & liquor to cost more
MUMBAI: Petrol, diesel, liquor, cigarettes and gold will cost more from tonight in Maharashtra.
These items will cost more as the state government has decided to levy a surcharge.
A surcharge of Rs 2 will be levied on petrol and diesel.
However, Local Body Tax in 27 corporations has been scrapped in the state.
Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told mediapersons that the state is in deficit of Rs 8,000 crore but it only wants to raise Rs 1600 crore as of now.
“The hike in petrol, diesel, liquor, cigarette, gold is justifiable as these items do not fall under essential commodity and people of Maharashtra are sensible to bear the cost for distress farmers,” said Mungantiwar.
The government needs Rs 421 crore to pay to farmers for their loss due to unseasonal rain crop loss, Rs 20 crore for repair of their houses, Rs 690 crore for crop insurance, Rs 60 crore for waiving off interest on loans, Rs 117 for restructuring of loans, Rs 1,072 aide for loss of crop and sprout produce farmers and Rs 950 crore for distribution of wheat and rice at Rs 2 and 3 under Food Security bill scheme, he said.
