In all likelihood, the state government will cut taxes on petroleum products in order to ease the burden on the consumers.
An indication to this effect was given to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office on Monday by Congress MLA Gandra Venkata Ramanareddy, who said that the Centre’s ‘suggestion’ to the state governments across the country to reduce the cess and levies imposed on gas and other petroleum products was under active consideration. “The state government is seriously considering the Centre’s advice to reduce cess and levies imposed on gas and other petro products, on the lines of West Bengal and Haryana governments,” Mr Venkata Ramanareddy said, in reply to questions if the advice offered by former chief minister K Rosaiah was being considered by the government. The MLA said that state government, keeping in mind the anguish and concern expressed by all sections of the society over the steep increase in the prices of petroleum products, will take all possible measures to ease the sufferings of the common man. “The government is presently discussing the cuts with the officials, a decision would hopefully be taken soon,” Mr Venkata Ramanreddy said. The MLA further condemned the opposition parties for their relentless against the state government over the poor implementation of welfare schemes. “The government is facing some problems. It is committed to implementing all schemes in letter and spirit. These hiccups would be overcome and the schemes implemented,” he said. Elaborating further, Mr Venkata Ramanreddy pointed out that the fee reimbursement scheme had initially cost the state exchequer Rs 1500 crore, but this has now increased to Rs 4,000 crore. “Despite financial constraints, the government is taking all measures for implementing the schemes for the benefit of poor and middle class,” he pointed out. The MLA also extended his gratitude to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for announcing the Yuva Kiranulu scheme, aimed to upgrade skills of youth and provide 15 lakh jobs in next three years. “The Chief Minister’s decision will point the youth in a good direction,” he said. MLC Rudraraju Padmaraju sought the suggestions of Opposition parties over the government welfare schemes instead of finding fault in them. The government will improve the delivery mechanism of the schemes by accommodating the suggestions of opposition, Mr Padmaraju said.