Assocham against imposition of diesel cess
The Delhi government should roll back the additional cess of 25 paise per litre on diesel, as the decision will put the common man under ‘huge burden’, Industry body Assocham said.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government should roll back the additional cess of 25 paise per litre on diesel, as the decision will put the common man under ‘huge burden’, Industry body Assocham today said.
"The proposed cess would serve no intended purpose and make the government of Delhi highly unpopular as fuel prices are already very high and put common man under huge burden," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said in a statement.
He said the government should phase out diesel-run vehicles in a time-bound manner to curb air pollution instead of imposing cess.
The chamber said pollution level in Delhi has increased due to many other factors and not just due to diesel-run vehicles, and added that the proposed cess is not a viable solution to discourage use of such vehicles in and around the capital.
The Delhi government should further intensify its efforts to ensure that state-run oil companies and private refiners produce sulphur-free diesel, which is less polluting compared to what is being sold in the market, it said.
"In the last six to seven years, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been consistently asking state-owned oil companies and private sector refining firms to eliminate sulphur element in diesel. If further pressure is built on them, the oil companies have the potential to produce sulphur free diesel so that it does not add to air pollution", Assocham added.
It suggested that the Delhi government and the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry should allot budget to the oil companies for introducing sulphur-free diesel with technological upgradation in refineries.
"The proposed cess would serve no intended purpose and make the government of Delhi highly unpopular as fuel prices are already very high and put common man under huge burden," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said in a statement.
He said the government should phase out diesel-run vehicles in a time-bound manner to curb air pollution instead of imposing cess.
The chamber said pollution level in Delhi has increased due to many other factors and not just due to diesel-run vehicles, and added that the proposed cess is not a viable solution to discourage use of such vehicles in and around the capital.
The Delhi government should further intensify its efforts to ensure that state-run oil companies and private refiners produce sulphur-free diesel, which is less polluting compared to what is being sold in the market, it said.
"In the last six to seven years, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been consistently asking state-owned oil companies and private sector refining firms to eliminate sulphur element in diesel. If further pressure is built on them, the oil companies have the potential to produce sulphur free diesel so that it does not add to air pollution", Assocham added.
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It suggested that the Delhi government and the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry should allot budget to the oil companies for introducing sulphur-free diesel with technological upgradation in refineries.
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