Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): The Government of Nagaland’s decision to impose a COVID-19 cess on petrol and diesel sales on April 28 has drawn the attention of several organisations, many of whom raised concerns that the decision will be detrimental to the fragile economy.
Petroleum dealers ask to review decision
The Petroleum Dealers Association of Dimapur and Kohima today asked the State Government to review its decision with regard to the COVID-19 cess on petrol and diesel in view of the hardship faced by the public. A press release from the two organisations meanwhile informed that the Retail Petroleum Outlets (RPOs) or petrol stations have “no gain or loss in the recently hiked price of petrol and diesel by the state government as COVID-19 cess.” “The sale commission of RPOs remain the same and the difference in the prices increased is paid into the coffer of the state government,” it added. Therefore, the associations urged the public not to harass the RPOs in this matter as “it is beyond our control.”
NCD opposes ‘heartless’ price hike
Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) strongly objected to the COVID-19 Cess and said that “raising the price of diesel and petrol at this juncture is very shocking and disturbing,” when economic activities have been affected and people are facing great difficulties.
“Whatever explanation the government is trying to give the public can never prove or reason for justifying such heartless deed,” the NCD said in a statement on Saturday.
The Naga Council Dimapur also appealed petrol pump owners to shut down all petrol pumps and “express their solidarity to the public in order to show resentment to the state government.”
Further, it argued that “Every organisation coming out against such reckless decision proves that this hiking of fuel prices is been very wrongly timed,” and as such, demanded the withdrawal of this decision immediately.
The NCD meanwhile said that international oil prices have fully slumped down and nowhere are fuel prices hiked during this time. “There is also no shortage of funds in the state as of now as the centre has granted generous amount to prepare and deal the COVID -19 pandemic,” it said, as it urged the government to immediately withdraw the ‘thoughtless’ decision.
DDCF appeals to reconsider decision
In this connection, the Dimapur District Citizens' Forum (DDCF) issued a press release on Saturday appealing the Government of Nagaland to reconsider its decision and roll back the COVID Cess for the welfare of the people.
It said that has been no positive response from the government on the issue despite ‘hue and cry’ from all the corners of Nagaland calling the government of Nagaland to roll back the COVID Cess.
The DDCF said that while the ‘abnormal raise’ in petrol and diesel price will obviously generate a good amount of revenue for the government, more than the revenue (income) generated, “the hardship faced by the general people of Nagaland will be more.”
“With this COVID Cess, the already sky rocketing prices of commodities will automatically shoot up again, thereby not only affecting the prices of every commodity but effecting each and every citizen who had been under lockdown for the past forty days,” it added.
Further, it said that the commercial capital of the state is reeling under immense hardship, with traders facing loss of perishable items and struggling to pay house rent, shop rent, godown rent, electricity bills, staff salaries etc. “This increase of cess on petrol and diesel is unthinkable and should be rolled back at these bad times, the DCCF said as it appealed the government to reconsider its decision.
Revoke cess immediately: WSH
The Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has asked the state government to revoke this COVID-19 cess on diesel and petrol immediately.
WSH termed the hike of diesel and petrol prices as “truly shocking and greatly distressing in complete disregard for the common man’s plight.”
The WSH in a press release stated that in a time of grim uncertainties and much despair, it is very unbecoming of the state government to take such an upsetting measure when the people are all reeling under immense hardships from all fronts with all economic activities and securities being greatly disrupted.
“The government should be providing solidarity to people’s need and hardship instead of supplementing it by adding more by such senseless act. By this act, the people’s misery has been multiplied instead of being lessened and relieved. The most basic necessities of life, health and food, at this present situation should be generously and readily provided at almost free cost rather than letting things become costlier which the cascading affect of the hike will surely result in,” it stated.
The WSH added that taking pre-emptive steps such as cutting dearness allowances of employees and dearness relief of pensioners and again hiking the cost of fuel will ultimately lead to price hike of every item which will invoke double hardship on the state populace. “All over the world oil prices have been slumped down to its lowest edge.”
