Guwahati: The Assam government on Friday announced roll back of additional cess imposed on petrol, diesel and liquor during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Declaring this in the vote on account presented in the state Assembly, Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Now, the pandemic has declined to a reasonable extent, the number of patients has reduced and the need for COVID 19 screening centres has gone down. The state Cabinet has decided to withdraw the additional cess and taxes imposed during the COVID 19 period.”
Additional cess on petrol and diesel has been withdrawn and it will be cheaper by Rs 5 per litre from midnight today, he said.
Similarly, additional cess imposed on various liquor categories during last year, averaging around 25%, has also been withdrawn.
Dr Sarma, who also holds the Health portfolio, further said the COVID 19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges before the state, with pressure on scarce resources.
He thanked the frontline COVID warriors as well as the general public for standing with the government to tide over the challenges, noting that the state has consistently maintained a high recovery rate of over 98% and low mortality rate at 0.50%.
He also mentioned of the grants received from the Central government and it’s agencies, as well as general public, to support the state’s fight against the pandemic.
The Minister sought vote on account for Rs 60,784.03 crore for the first six months of the fiscal 2021-22, as the state goes to polls in the next couple of months. (UNI)