Jaipur: Without facing any debate on the Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill-2009, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday announced in the house a set of new measures like tax relieves, new SEZ act and increased salary for MLAs.
Four per cent tax on sugarcane product "gur" (jaggery),
all kinds of sarees, including decorated ones, unfried potato
chips, and rice bran have been abolished, Gehlot said in a
statement tabled in the house.
However, taxes on towels and shoes costing up to Rs 200
have been raised up to Rs 300, while taxes on power tools and
their accessories have been reduced from 14 per cent to four
per cent.
Handicraft products like wood (babool, mango,sheesham)
are going to get cheaper with a reduction in tax from 14 per
cent to 4 per cent, he said.
A unified tax of Rs 2,000 (one time) has been imposed
on sale of used vehicles with engine capacity of up to 1000 cc
and on used heavy vehicles the tax has been kept at Rs 8000
(one time).
Giving impetus to private sector, the chief minister said
a new Special Economic Zone Act would be formed, and land
conversion fee would be Rs 100 (unit of area not mentioned in
the speech),with developer & co-developer being given an equal
status.
He also raised the relaxation (concession) in power tariff
from seven years to ten years.
In addition to the tax sops, the state also plans to set
up fourteen new courts under Negotiable Instruments Act, while
an Urban Improvement Trust would be created in Jaisalmer, he
said.
A Performance Audit, a system on the lines of the Andhra
government, would be put in place at a cost of Rs 15 crores
for regular performance of programmes being conducted under
NREGA, he said.
Salary of sitting MLAs has been raised from Rs 5,000 to
Rs 7,500 per month. In addition the government also plans to
give them a laptop each, he said.
Pension for ex-MLAs has also been raised from Rs 2,500 to
Rs 5,000 per month, he said.
Finance Bill and Appropriation Bills 2009 were passed by
voice vote without any debate amid BJP-CPIM's joint protest
and sit in.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 17:41