Fuel cess in Kerala likely to be cut in half to Re 1

Thiruvananthapuram: According to reports, the Kerala government will probably reduce the proposed cess on petrol and diesel by half, or Rs 1, and the decision would most likely be made public on Wednesday.

K.N. Balagopal, the state's finance minister, shocked the Keralites by including a 2 rupee per litre cess on petrol and diesel in the budget for 2023–24. This has sparked a number of protests throughout the state, and the opposition UDF has warned of a number of agitations as a result, IANS reported.

The ruling Left Democratic Front was in a spot following the heavy criticism from across the state and CPI-M state Secretary, M.V. Govindan had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday. Sources in the CPI-M said that he told the Chief Minister that people, across the state, are unhappy over the cess imposed on petrol and diesel.

The opposition UDF which had announced a series of protests against the imposition of the cess will conduct a meeting on Monday and is likely to hold protest marches on Tuesday.