From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 11: Even as the day-long Bharat Bandh called by Congress and other opposition parties against the constantly rising fuel prices was near total in Bengaluru and most parts of Karnataka, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has held that bandh is not the only solution for containing increasing fuel prices.

FKCCI president Sudhakar S Shetty, has in a statement said: “We understand the hardship faced by the industry, transporters and common man due to fuel price hike. But bandh is not the only solution.”

“Already we have a number of holidays due to festivals. This bandh has increased the loss to business on an important time. The industry gives Rs 65,000 crore to the State Government annually, which means per day Rs 160 crore is given to the State Government,’’ he said pointing out that a day’s bandh has led to a loss of about Rs 160 crore to the State Government in the form of taxes.

The central excise duty on petrol is Rs19.48 per litre and Rs 15.33 per litre on diesel which works out to around 23.27% and 20.58% respectively. The state government’s tax on petrol is 32% and 21% on diesel, he said suggesting that the central and state governments must take steps to lighten the burden on the people.