K'taka urges Centre for uniform policy on petroleum products

Kollur, Aug 3 (UNI) Karnataka government today demanded that the Centre bring uniform policy on the issue price of petroleum products to the states.

Speaking to newspersons here, Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya said the state suffered due to the highest issue price on petro-products, hence the prices of petrol and diesel were increased in the state.

Mr Acharya said while representing the state at the meeting of All India Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers in New Delhi recently, had urged the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to bring in an uniform policy on the issue price of petro-products.

''Karnataka government cannot be blamed on this issue. Public sector MRPL had asked us to either reduce or waive-off entry tax on petroleum products. But the issue price of petro-products is the highest for Karnataka. Will Centre look at this issue,'' he asked.

The minister said the prices of petro-products would come down, if the state was given the benefit of lower issue price on par with other states, he added.

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