Amid the continuing increase in fuel prices across the country and growing public concern over rising petrol costs, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday asserted that Meghalaya’s fuel rates remain competitively lower than the national average even as the State faces the impact of a global petroleum crisis triggered by international conflicts and economic uncertainty. Stressing that the rise in petrol prices was part of a worldwide phenomenon and not isolated to Meghalaya or India, the Chief Minister urged citizens to remain calm, prepare for uncertain times and avoid panic amid continuing volatility in global markets.
“The high rise of petrol as you are aware, has a lot to do with the external factor of the war that is happening and this is a global phenomenon and, therefore, it is impacting everyone. So therefore, it is not something that is only isolated to Meghalaya or only to India, it is a phenomenon that is impacting the world at large, and many nations, in fact, had to go into even austerity in terms of rationalizing the quantity of fuel being given to individuals. We have not reached that point and I do not expect that we will reach it but of course, uncertainty looms ahead for us, so we have to be careful. I think that is what the Prime Minister’s larger message is that, it is not the time that we need to panic, but we definitely need to see what we can do because of the uncertainty that is there. What we can do as individuals is to prepare for the uncertainty that is in front of us, so, I think that is the larger picture,” Sangma said.
Describing the present situation as a difficult phase for the global community, the Chief Minister said the government would continue monitoring supply chains and market conditions to prevent artificial inflation and ensure that there is no shortage of fuel or essential commodities in Meghalaya.
“It is a difficult time, we urge, of course our citizens also that we must all be together, we must stand together, these are difficult times that the globe and the world is facing at large. From our side as you are aware that the overall prices are very much below the average at the national level, but wherever possible, we will try our best to see that there is no shortage. We will ensure that there is no kind of hoarding or stocking that takes place that could lead to any kind of rise in prices but yes, as I said, this is the reality and we need to adjust to it, and we need to prepare for uncertainty, but we do hope that we will be able to see positive outcomes at the international level, though completely out of our control, we hope that things will normalize soon. But in the meantime, I think everybody has to just prepare through these uncertain times,” he said.
Responding to demands for a reduction in State taxes on fuel, the Chief Minister maintained that Meghalaya already levies comparatively lower taxes than several other States but cautioned that any further reduction would significantly affect the State’s limited revenues and its ability to meet expenditure obligations.
“Every state can reduce state tax, we are already low compared to others, but as I said, it affects our revenues also, we also have our own expenditures to meet,” the CM said.
“The country’s smallest states, like us, have got less sources of revenue and, therefore, it is a very difficult call for us,” he added.
“We need to see the impact that it will have on our own state’s resources and the resources we require to run, so therefore all these factors need to be looked into,” Sangma said.
Meghalaya Fuel Rates Remain Competitively Lower Amid Increase in Fuel Prices, Says CM
