Fuel Station Owners Demand 'One Nation One Rate'

Fuel prices in India fluctuate every fortnight and the cost also varies from state to state, depending on the duties that are levied locally. To curb this inconsistency, several fuel station owners in India are demanding ‘One Nation One Rate’ i.e. a uniform price for petroleum products pan India.

The All India Petroleum Dealers Association President Ajay Bansal stated that the different value added tax (VAT) rates prevailing in different states result in a price disparity. The difference varies from 60 paise to Rs 4 per litre for diesel and Re 1 to Rs 7.50 per litre for petrol. Tamil Nadu levies the maximum tax on petrol while Goa imposes the least, he added.

The association claims to be a national body that represents over 52,000 fuel stations in the country and has been meeting chief ministers and state finance ministers to bring about the consistency in petroleum product prices. Bansal was also quoted stating "We also demand that petroleum products be brought under GST to ensure one nation one rate.", though he doesn’t expect the states to agree on this matter.

The proposal will need some time to get a consensus, as convincing states to agree will be an uphill task, especially in states like Goa where such a move could see fuel prices spike. Bansal though, believes this step will help in controlling the prices of the commodity.

Apart from this, fuel station proprietors have also requested for improved security as many of them have fallen victim to thefts.