UP govt hikes fuel, liquor prices; hopes to earn Rs 4,400 cr revenue

Uttar Presh government on Wednesday hiked petrol and diesel prices and also asked tipplers to shell out more, decisions meant to generate more revenue for state in an ecomy hit by coronavirus crisis.

Petrol will cost Rs 2 more for a litre and diesel Re 1. decision follows Centre's move on Tuesday to increase excise duty on petrol by a record Rs 10 per litre and Rs 13 per litre for diesel.

In Uttar Presh, people will shell out between Rs 5 to Rs 400 more per bottle of liquor, depending on its size and category of drink.

decisions, taken at a meeting of state Cabinet, come into effect Wednesday midnight. Toger, y d up to over Rs 4,400 crore in ditional revenue by end of this financial year.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said hike in liquor prices is likely to earn state Rs 2,350 crore this financial year. increase in fuel prices will fetch Rs 2,070 crore more.

decision on liquor prices follows similar moves by states like New Delhi, Tamil Nu, Andhra Presh and Haryana, coinciding with reopening of alcohol vends which were closed for weeks during lockdown to fight coronavirus.

Khanna said price of country-me liquor has been increased by Rs 5 per bottle.

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Indian-me foreign liquor (IMFL) at lower end will cost Rs 10 more for a 180-ml bottle, Rs 20 more for a bottle of up to 500 ml and Rs 30 more for larger bottles.

For IMFL in premium category, price hike will range between Rs 20 and Rs 50, depending on size of bottle.

Imported liquor will see a hike of Rs 100 for a 180 ml bottle, Rs 200 for a bottle of up to 500 ml and Rs 400 for anything larger.

" hike is likely to earn revenue of Rs 2,350 crore for state government," Khanna said.

“ sale of liquor in state also came to a halt following imposition of nationwide lockdown,” UP finance minister said.

He said many people resorted to buying illicit liquor when y could t get genuine drinks. “As a result, re were reports of illicit liquor being me on a large scale in vills,” he said.

“Over 80,000 litre of illicit liquor was seized till May 4 and 499 illicit liquor-manufacturing units busted in state. More than 3,500 FIRs were registered and about 3,600 people arrested in this connection,” he said.

Khanna also referred to recent Ghaziab case in which three friends consumed a sanitiser and or toxic liquids. Two of m died and third man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

“In Kanpur too, some people died after consuming illicit liquor,” he ded.

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