Even as the base price of diesel remains the same across the country, the fuel costs dearer in Odisha due to a high percentage of Value Added Tax (VAT) being taken by the State Government.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said this while responding to a medial query here on Tuesday. He said the prices of diesel and petrol would be reduced in Odisha only when the State Government would slash VAT on them.
Pradhan criticised the State Government for not reducing tax on diesel and petrol when 20 States followed suit of the Centre and reduced tax.