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GUWAHATI: Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that tax on liquor will be slashed by 25 per cent.
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement while presenting the vote on account Budget on Friday, on the second day of the three-day State Assembly session. The vote on account from April-July 2021 comes ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly Elections.
Speaking at the session, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the government has decided to remove the 25 per cent additional cess on alcohol, which was levied to meet healthcare expenses during the COVID-19 induced pandemic. The change in the cess tax on the price of alcohol will be put into effect by the state government from February 13.
This is the last Budget of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Assam before the State Assembly polls are held.
The finance minister, while presenting the interim Budget on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly said, "I am happy to present the fifth Budget."
Himanta Biswa Sarma had already announced the removal of the cess tax earlier this year.
In May 2020, Assam increased excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) by 25% and in April the government increased the price of petrol from Rs 71.61 to Rs 77.46 per litre, and diesel from Rs 65.07 to Rs 70.50 per litre.
The finance minister said in the financial year 2019-20, the total expenditure in the state was Rs 81,088 thousand crore. He said the state government has been able to implement 68% of the proposals in the 2019-20 Assam Budget. Sarma said in the financial year 2019-20, the capital expenditure in the state increased to Rs 13,501 crore.
The minister also announced that Petrol and diesel will cost Rs 5 less from Friday midnight.
Petrol and diesel in Assam are currently priced at Rs 90.17 and 84.82 respectively.
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