Swachch Bharat cess to spike petrol, diesel cost

Prices of petrol and diesel will go up significantly despite record low costs of crude oil in the global market.

Telephone bills too will spike if the government accepts NITI Aayog’s sub group of chief minister’s suggestions to impose cess across the board on fuels, minerals and telephone calls.

The cess is for implementation of Swachch Bharat programme and the government envisages to collect Rs 12,500 crore in Swachch Bharat kitty through the cess.

The NITI Aayog will prepare a final report on the swachch bharat cess in the next 10 days after which it will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consideration.
 The two per cent Swachch Bharat cess was proposed in this year’s budget by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.