Sawkmie asks govt to bring down fuel cess, revise cab fares

SHILLONG, Feb 3: Hailing the indefinite strike of commercial vehicle owners and drivers in Meghalaya and asserting their demands as genuine, the Opposition Congress Chief Whip, PT Sawkmie, has urged the Meghalaya government to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel and to revise the taxi fares.
He informed that in 2018, the state government had reduced the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50. “I urge the government to adopt similar measures to ease the problem of the commercial vehicle drivers and owners,” Sawkmie said.
Referring to the Union Budget, the Opposition Chief Whip hoped that the state will not be affected by the proposed Agricultural Infrastructure and Development Cess of Rs 2.5 per litre on petrol and Rs 4 on diesel.
Pointing out that the odd-even formula, put in effect in view of the COVID-19-induced situation, had troubled the commercial vehicle owners and drivers, Sawkmie said, “I request the government to reduce the taxes to be paid by commercial vehicle owners. It would provide them much-needed respite”.