Jaipur (Rajasthan): In a view to tackle the rising coronavirus cases in Rajasthan and to allocate sufficient funds to fight against the same, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has decided to increase the VAT on petrol and diesel. In an official statement issued by the State Government, prices of petrol and diesel have turned costlier by four per cent which came as a big shockwave to the citizens.
VAT on petrol has been escalated to 34% and to 26% on diesel, said the release, which came into effect after amending VAT schedule 6. This move comes after CM Ashok Gehlot has announced complete lockdown in the state till March 31 except medical and essential services after the total number of positive cases rose to 26.
According to official sources, this step has been taken by the government to spent the necessary funds on healthcare and infrastructure amid the rising covid-19 cases. The state is going through a financial crisis and the collected money will be spent on the welfare on the state residents keeping health as the topmost priority, sources revealed.
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Taking a jibe at the Central government for not providing benefits to the state, Gehlot said that the Modi Government is not giving an appropriate share to the state in its budget. States face severe difficulties due to the different schemes run by the Central and state government and in order to avoid discrepancies, VAT has been increased.
The Chief Minister has been accusing the Central Government of withholding the grant of various schemes. The state government says that the central government is not giving the budget allocation of the state's share. Due to which financial difficulties are being faced in running the schemes of the Center and the State. The government has started filling the coffers by increasing VAT rates.
Rajasthan becomes the first state to impose complete lockdown from March 22-March 31 to contain the spread of novel coronavirus and keep people safe. Gehlot took the decision at a high-level meeting with the top officials. All government offices, malls, factories, public transport will remain shut during the period, he said. States like Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar have already imposed partial lockdown till month-end.
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