A steep hike in petrol and diesel prices across the country has left many Indians fuming amid rising economic woes. However, people of Chhattisgarh do not seem to worry so much about the fuel prices as petrol and diesel in the State are cheaper by Rs 12 and Rs 4 respectively compared to those in other neighbouring States. People of Chhattisgarh are relieved because of the Bhupesh Baghel government’s decision to keep the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rates lower than those in neighbouring States, notes a media release of the Chhattisgarh government.  

Currently, the VAT rates in Chhattisgarh are 25 per cent plus Rs 2 per litre on petrol and 25 per cent plus Re 1 per litre on diesel. Hence, the petrol price in Raipur district is Rs 87.28 per litre and the diesel price is Rs 85.66 per litre, whereas the petrol price in Gondia district of Maharashtra is Rs 96.07 per litre and the diesel price is Rs 86.31 per litre. Likewise, in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, petrol is priced at Rs 99.07 per litre and diesel at Rs 89.55 per litre. In Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, petrol costs Rs 87.76 per litre, while diesel is Rs 84.24 per litre. In Simdega of Jharkhand, petrol is priced at Rs 87.81 per litre and diesel costs Rs 85.19 per litre. In Bargadh of Odisha State, petrol price is Rs 90.64 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 87.34 per litre, adds the media release.  

It is noteworthy that the base price of petrol is Rs 19.48 per litre, on which the Central government imposes the Central Excise Duty of Rs 31.98, whereas the Chhattisgarh government imposes VAT of Rs 15.11. Similarly, the base price of diesel is Rs 28.66, on which the Central government imposes the Central Excise Duty of Rs 31.83, whereas the Chhattisgarh government imposes only Rs 16.12 as VAT, reveals the media release.