---------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help other CONSUMERS to be better informed. ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN calls upon the Goa Govt. for relief to consumers by withdrawal of Cess levied on LPG cylinders. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) has called upon the Government of Goa to immediately reconsider the levying of Rural Welfare Cess on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) which is entering the State of Goa and for which charges are being collected on a per tonne basis at the border check post for the State of Goa.
The implication of such Cess collection has resulted in a financial burden on the Goan consumer with a cost of the domestic LPG Cylinder being hiked by Rs. 4 for a cylinder weighing 14.2 kg. The current price increase on every LPG cylinder will directly impact over 3 lakh LPG consumers being provided services by Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and India Oil Corporation. GOACAN is of the view that as diesel and petrol have been exempt from this Cess collection, it would be appropriate for the Govt. of Goa not to burden the Goan consumer with such a collection of Cess on an important essential commodity like LPG. It may be noted that effectively from 9th September the cost of domestic LPG cylinders which was Rs.335.97 was increased to Rs. 339.66 by the Petroleum Companies based on a notification issued in the Official Gazette by the Directorate of Transport. The Notification with the relevant exemptions was based on the proposal to collect the said Rural Welfare Cess prepared by the Finance Dept. of the Govt. of Goa. Accordingly, the Petroleum Companies have issued directives to the LPG dealers to sell the domestic Gas Cylinder at the new price of Rs.339.66. Various Consumer Forums have been receiving a large amount of complaints that confusion prevailed as some LPG dealers has issued bills for Rs. 335.97 and were collecting Rs. 4/- as a surcharge for which the delivery men were unable to offer a reasonable explanation. GOACAN has decided to petition the Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Digambar Kamat who also holds the Finance Portfolio to reconsider the levy of Cess on LPG with immediate effect. ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mail: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
