Petrol price cut by another 92 paise,no VAT on CNG

The reduction of VAt on petrol will be applicable by Monday night or by Tuesday,and will bring down the fuel’s prices by 92 paise per litre. Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 70.24 per litre.

Following stiff opposition,including that from her party MLAs,Dikshit withdrew the budget proposal to levy 5 per cent VAT on CNG. The price of CNG,which fuels public transport in the city,will remain at Rs 35.45 per kg.

Auto and taxi unions had gone on strike last week,protesting the increase in CNG prices and demanded a hike in fares.

“We are here in the Delhi Assembly because of the people of Delhi. If they demand something,we will have to listen to them even if we have to tighten our belts. People are reeling under price rise also,” Dikshit said.

Dikshit also withdrew the proposal to levy 5 per cent VAT on textiles costing above Rs 300 per metre,garment set priced above Rs 600 and sarees costing above Rs 1,000 to “protect” the textile industry in the city.

“We do not want the textile industry to lose out to competition from NCR regions due to the levying of proposed VAT on textiles,’’ she said.

She called its a “zero loan budget”.

“Over 94 per cent of the budget would be met from our own resources. The target in the current fiscal for tax collection is Rs 26,150 crore. This would represent a growth of 31 per cent over the tax collection of Rs 19,972 crore in 2011-12. Our approved plan outlay has seen 4.5-fold increase. It was Rs 3,800 crore in 2011-12,and has gone up to Rs 15,000 crore in 2012-13,’’ said Dikshit.

Around 65 per cent of the total plan outlay for the current year has been allocated to the social services sector.

“Our five hospitals — Delhi State Cancer Institute,IHBAS,ILBSH,Maulana Azad Dental Institute and Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya — have been granted NABH accreditation. The hospital beds have increased from 30,667 in 2002 to 42,700 in 2011,’’ she said.

In order to make Delhi a kerosene-free city,the government will provide one-time cash subsidy of Rs 2,000 to about 1.75 lakh household for obtaining an LPG connection and purchase of a gas stove.

Schemes for resettlement colonies,urban and rural villages were also passed.