Forgo higher revenue to provide relief to consumers, Lok Satta tells State

The Lok Satta Party today asked the State Government to allocate a certain portion of its revenue from the increase in the diesel price to reduce the burden on consumers.

In a media statement, party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma pointed out that Andhra Pradesh levies an exorbitant tax of 22.5 percent on diesel. The State’s revenue goes up whenever the Government of India raises the diesel price. It can provide relief to the common person by reducing its tax on diesel.

Since a hike in diesel price fuels inflation and hurts the common person most, the State and Union Governments should strive to mitigate its effects. They should promote public transport by offering a higher subsidy on diesel to public transport undertakings including the railways and improving infrastructure. They should supply solar LED lanterns and encourage blending of petrol with ethanol produced out of sugarcane to reduce the demand for kerosene and petrol.