AGARTALA, Oct 15 (TIWN): When 10% extra funding to outside-companies under previous CPI-M Govt has led an FIR against retired officers and former PWD Minister Badal Choudhury amid PAC’s approval, under the BJP Govt a fresh scam is being emerged as the State Govt yet to disclose how much revenue was earned and how much was utilized by taxing the fuel in the name of PWD works for road maintenance. Media yet to be briefed how much revenue was collected by taxing fuel by the BJP Govt which was solely targeted to maintain roads under PWD, but in last 18 months almost no maintenance work left roadways paralyzed but in few places, in the name of maintenance, only few holes were filled by few bricks marking low quality work under PWD.

It was promised by Govt that the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposition will 100% help out the PWD in road maintenance which will increase incomes of drivers, businessmen by shortening the journey by gifting a “smooth journey” on smooth roads and all will be done by the revenue income from fuel-tax, but the situations of road all across regardless national highway to PWD routes left deplorable with uncertain reason. 

But at the same time, fuel tax hikes have drastically increased commodity prices in the state. Right now the VAT charges imposed on petrol and diesel are 23% and 15.5% accordingly.

But BJP Govt earlier in July, 2018 assured that the earned revenue from extra taxes to be used for road-maintenance. 

On October 8, local people of Manughat, Longtarai Valley came in massive protest demanding immediate maintenance of the national highway.Various roads in the state left in deplorable condition allegedly due to lack of maintenance.On Tuesday locals blocked the National Highway demanding recovery of the roads. Big holes have turned the vehicle movements risky over there.

The roads which are under PWD are at the same time suffering due to lack of maintenance whereas the Law Minister while imposing cess said that the earned revenues to help in funding for road maintenance.

Cess imposition : Tripura cabinet on July 26, 2018 had decided first ever to bring ordinance to hike 2 % cess on Petrol, Diesel, Natural Gas.

While imposing the cess, the Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath said, “There are 3000 buses in Tripura, autos 34,000, E-Rickshaws' number is 8,300. Trucks including small and big are 28,000, cars 10,000, two wheelers above 3 lakhs. Around 4 lakhs of vehicles are running over state's pathetic roads. The roadway's condition is bad leading massive damages to the vehicles. People are suffering. The vehicles are losing their lasting quality. Transport movement is becoming tough. Delivery is getting delayed. Aiming to develop the economy and betterment of every citizens of the state, which will reduce the transport cost and also save time Govt has decided to lavy 2 % cess on fuel. That revenue will develop roadmaps. Once the transport become faster and can save time in delivery automatically it will reduce the transport cost and save the vehicles from damages.

“That’s why the Govt has decided to bring an ordinance under ‘Tripura Road Development Cess Ordinance 2018’ to impose the 2 % cess on petrol, diesel, natural gas”, said Ratan Lal Nath adding that the whole revenue will be used in road renovation.  

VAT imposition : Since in power at least 3 times the VAT charges were revised on petrol, diesel. In December 28, 2018 the revised rate imposed 23% VAT on petrol and 15.5% on diesel.

In this regard, a Congress leader said, Tripura Govt is unnecessarily imposing 24% tax whereas Central Govt imposed another 19% tax. If taxes of 12% by State Govt and 10% by Central Govt are being cut then the price will be downed at 60. In total now the fuel tax in Tripura is 43%.