Team Herald
PANJIM: As announced in the Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on March 16, petrol will turn costlier by Rs 3.50 from April 1 as the government has hiked VAT on the fuel from 15 per cent to 22 per cent. With this, petrol which was sold at Rs 53.50 per litre will now cost Rs 57 per litre.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had declared a rise in petrol prices while ensuring that it does not exceed Rs 60. In a press briefing post the cabinet meeting on Thursday, he reiterated the government’s stand on the decision.
The decision has been condemned by the Congress party with party general secretary Sunil Kawthankar calling it another U-turn. “Everything is costlier in Goa. It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said.
Ironically, on the very day the State Budget announced increasing the increase in VAT on petrol, the Centre had hiked the price of petrol by over Rs 3 per litre.
