Amidst demand by BJP from state government to reduce its share of taxes on petroleum products, the Jharkhand Petroleum Dealers Association (JPDA) too has made similar demands from the JMM-led UPA government in Jharkhand.

Senior Congress leader- cum - district board member and president of JPDA Ashok Singh demanded for the same from the state government.

Talking to media persons, Singh claimed that on several occasions his association has given memorandum to the state government, be it the government of BJP or the present government, but none of the governments paid heed to their demands.Singh claimed that Jharkhand is the only state that has very high state taxes on petrol and diesel compared to its neighbouring  states including Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and UP.

Explaining the impact, Singh said a majority of the pumps on highways connecting these states have no sale of diesel due to high price as those be it truckers or common man coming to Jharkhand   purchase diesel and petrol outside Jharkhand. Singh claimed that all major users of diesel in Jharkhand purchase from the neighboring states.

 He claimed that this is one of the reasons that sales of diesel have dropped by 20per cent  in the last few years compared to where the taxes were low. In this way the state that would have otherwise earned good revenue is now at loss and neighboring states are reaping the benefits .Singh said  if the state government reduces its share of tax by 5per cent compared to present one can earn an extra revenue up to Rs 60 crores in a month according to a moderate estimate.He requested the Congress leaders to pressurise the government  for reduction of state government’s share of tax, requesting not to make petrol and diesel prices a political agenda.