The fuel consumers are feeling the pinch with the rise in petrol and diesel prices almost on a daily basis and the corresponding increase of cooking gas, which is a double whammy of sorts. Instead of having differential rates in different states the government at the centre will do well to bring the fuel prices under the ambit of GST by reducing the excise duty and prevailing on the states to do away with VAT. In the present scenario when Russia is supplying oil to India at a thirty per cent discount, there is no justification behind the steep hike which has a cascading effect on transportation of goods and services thereby leading to inflationary pressure on the economy. In a related news report, the long awaited amended Motor Vehicle Act has come into force effective from April 1 with steep penalties for violations including a whopping Rs10,000/- fine for non-compliance of PUC certification, where serpentine queues were witnessed at PUC centres. Such stupendous fines will act on the psyche of the motorists who are already reeling under the trauma of unemployment and this may lead to a confrontation with traffic police issuing challans.
