Five northern states and a Union Territory, Chandigarh, have agreed to bring uniformity on the rates of petrol and diesel.
The decision was taken at a meeting of north zone’s finance ministers and officers for economical strengthening of northern states and to implement ‘one nation, one tax’ system.
The meeting was attended by Haryana finance minister Abhimanyu, Delhi deputy chief minister and finance minister Manish Sisodia, Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, and senior officers from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
An official spokesperson said it was agreed during the meeting to bring uniformity on the rates of petrol and diesel and all the participating states decided to constitute a sub-committee for the same. It has been decided that the committee would convene a meeting in next 15 days and all the participating states will give their recommendations.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abhimanyu said that the Finance Ministers and officials of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UT of Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi attended this meeting.
The Haryana finance minister said that on the advice of Delhi, similarly excise policy will be implemented for all the northern states so that there is similarity of rates of liquor for all these states.
Likewise, Punjab suggested that there should be similar uniform policy for state transport so that there should be no loss of revenue from registration and permit fees since many trucks and vehicles of Punjab and Haryana have their registration from other states.
A committee of officials has also been set up for excise and transport, which would send the report to their respective state governments on the uniformity of rates.