By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Several fair price shop owners have blamed shortage of coins as the main reason for their charging Rs 17 per litre of kerosene against the government fixed price of Rs 16.33.
“With the price of kerosene being fixed at Rs 16.33 per litre by the state government recently, it has becomes difficult for us to keep changes and where will get changes for Rs 16.33 and moreover now-a-days 50 paise coin is not accepted in the State, so it is become very difficult for us,” said a fair price shop owner.
When asked on the possibility of charging Rs 16 instead of Rs 17, another wholesaler told The Shillong Times that an understanding had been reached between the shop owners and the Dorbar Shnong to charge Rs 17 per litre of kerosene keeping in mind the transportation cost, porter cost and loading cost etc.
It may be mentioned here that some fair price shop owners were earlier accused of overcharging despite the fact that the state government recently had reduced the VAT on kerosene by Rs 67 paise per litre besides waving off sale tax on other petroleum products.
According to some customers of Mawlai, some shop owners had been charging Rs 17 per litre. “They charged Rs 17 per litre for kerosene citing that prices of the petroleum products has increased and we being ignorant of the fact that the state government has reduced the rate of these products pay as per the price charged by these dealers,” said one customer.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh told reporters here on Monday that a notification was issued following the Cabinet decision in which the cost of kerosene was reduced by Rs 67 paise per litre.
However, he stated that he had not received any such complaint but warned of stern action against those shop owners who are involved in such illegal activities.
