GUWAHATI, Jan 7 � The latest hike in the prices of LPG, diesel, kerosene and petrol in Assam has drawn flak from various quarters. The �State specific cost� implemented by the oil marketing companies was opposed by the All Assam Students� Union (AASU), which burnt effigies of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
The cost of a domestic LPG cylinder has gone up by Rs 16, diesel is costlier by Rs 2 per litre, hike in kerosene rate is from 75 paisa to one rupee per litre and petrol cost has been increased by one paisa per litre.
The oil marketing companies however, argued that the hike was due to the taxes imposed by the State Government, which have to be recovered from the consumers. �The rates are being revised quarterly due to the levies imposed by the State Government on the petroleum products. Whatever taxes have been imposed locally have to be recovered from the market here,� Priobhash Dey, Executive Director, IOCL, NE told The Assam Tribune.
