Petrol Pump Owners Demand For 'One Nation, One Rate' For Fuel

Fuel pump owners from across the country have demanded for 'One Nation, One Rate' for petroleum products to eliminate the difference in prevailing price between petrol and diesel.

Ajay Bansal, the President of All India Petroleum Dealers Association said, "We are demanding 'one nation one rate' for fuel so that there should be no disparity in prices of petrol and diesel in the states. This step will help in controlling prices of this essential commodity."

He said due to the difference in Value Added Tax (VAT) from state to state, there is a difference in fuel price. Diesel prices vary between 60 paise to Rs. 4, while petrol has a difference between Rs. 1 to Rs. 7.50 per litre respectively.

In terms of which state charges what amount of VAT, Haryana charges the lowest while states like Rajasthan and West Bengal charge about 20 to 24 percent tax, which is relatively higher.

Bansal says since fuel is an essential commodity, it has to be priced uniformly throughout the country. The All India Petroleum Dealers Association represents over 52,000 fuel pump dealers in the country and has been holding meetings with Chief Ministers and State Finance Ministers to take a look into the matter.