Govt has not yet thought about further cut in fuel tax: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, May 28: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the government has not yet thought about further cut in fuel tax, following the Centre's recent decision to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel.
Bowing to public pressure, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 21 had announced a Rs 8 per litre cut in excise duty on petrol and Rs 6 a litre on diesel to avoid increase in fuel prices that were necessitated due to surge in international oil prices.
Also, the Central government had decided to give Rs 200 per cylinder subsidy to Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries for 12 cylinders in a year to help ease some of the burden arising from cooking gas rates rising to record levels.
"No we have not yet thought about it...," Bommai said in response to a question on whether the state government has thought about any cut in fuel prices, following the Centre's decision.
Ahead of leaving for the Swiss ski resort town of Davos, to take part in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, Bommai on May 22 had said, his government will consider a further cut in fuel tax, following the Centre's decision.
He had earlier maintained that any decision in this regard will be taken after looking at the economy of the state.
The Chief Minister returned from Davos on Friday.
In November 2021, the state government had cut sales tax on petrol from 35 per cent to 25.9 per cent and on diesel from 24 per cent to 14.34 per cent, which resulted in petrol price reducing by Rs 13.30 per litre and diesel by Rs 19.47 per litre.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
