Ranchi, June 6 (IANS) Petroleum dealers in Jharkhand have demanded implementation of uniform sales tax on petrol and diesel so that no price disparity would take place in the country. The Jharkhand Petroleum and Dealers Association (JPDA) has demanded that the sales tax be removed from petroleum products and it be brought under value added tax (VAT) regime. At present, the petroleum dealers of Jharkhand give 18 percent sales tax on petrol and diesel.

“Earlier, sales tax on petrol and diesel was 20 percent and at present it is 18 percent. In West Bengal, the sales tax is 12 percent and in Punjab it is eight percent,” said JPDA president Ashok Kumar Singh.

He said: “We demand that the petroleum taxes be implemented uniformally in the country. The Punjab rate of eight percent should be adopted by all states and it should be made as uniform sales tax in the country.”

He added that the central government should end subsidy on kerosene.

“Due to subsidy on kerosene the prices of petroleum products are rising in the country. If the government wants to take care of the poor families then it should deposit the subsidy amount in bank accounts of the poor so that they can utilise it in a better way.”

In Jharkhand, petrol and diesel prices went up to Rs.51.04 and Rs.36.61 per liter, respectively.