Kerala govt to forgo extra tax on petrol price rise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will give up the extra tax accruing to the state exchequer from the latest rise. This move has brought some relief to the people of the state who are impacted by the surge in petrol prices.

The measure has been declared by the state Chief Minister Mr Oommen Chandy in the Assembly. It will bring down the petrol price in the state by 37 paise per litre from the Rs 1.82 surged via yesterday's decision by the oil firms.

Moreover, the Assembly also unanimously taken up a government resolution asking the Central government to take back the powers given to the oil firms for determining the petroleum rates.

Meanwhile, the transport sector unions has called for a dawn-to-dusk motor strike in the state today as they have been demanding roll back of the hike.

Furthermore, the resolution has been taken up by the House after a three-hour discussion on an adjournment motion, which has been moved by opposition LDF.

While, moving the LDF resolution, former Finance Minister Mr TM Thomas Isaac has made a scathing attack on the central government for consistently surging the petroleum prices at a time when inflation is already posing as a threat to the consumers.