Liquor and cigarettes prices raised on public demand: Dhumal
March 20th, 2012 - 5:52 pm ICT by IANSShimla, March 20 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to raise the prices of cigarettes and liquor was based on the wishes of the people of the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Tuesday.
“We had invited feedback from the public during budget preparation. Besides non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a large number of people had favoured steep hike in the prices of liquor and cigarettes,” Dhumal told IANS here.
The state budget for 2012-13 presented Monday proposed an increase in value-added tax (VAT) on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Likewise, the cess on liquor, both country-made and Indian made foreign liquor, had also been raised.
This was for the first time that the finance department had involved the public in preparing the budget.
“After studying each and every suggestion, we have incorporated some of them (in the budget). Some of the suggestions were quite valuable,” said Principal Secretary (Finance) Srikant Baldi.
The suggestions included increasing investment in infrastructure projects and imposition of tax on noise and air polluters, including industrial units and commercial organisations.
- Land and vehicle taxes up; liquor to cost more in Kerala - Mar 19, 2012
- Himachal proposes Rs.20,243 crore budget estimates - Mar 20, 2012
- Cigarettes, bidis costlier in Himchal - Apr 01, 2011
- Governor suggests tax hike for tobacco products - Mar 02, 2011
- 'Budget ineffective, clerical; will burden common man' (Second Lead) - Mar 16, 2012
- Budget is ineffective and clerical, says CPI (Lead) - Mar 16, 2012
- Comments invited on new tax rules, PM to take final call (Second lead) - Jun 29, 2012
- States can reduce petrol VAT if Congress takes initiative: Dhumal - May 26, 2012
- Economy will turn around in 2012-13: Pranab - Jun 11, 2012
- Economy will turn around in 2012-13: Pranab - Jun 11, 2012
- Govt invites comments on GAAR, PM to take final call (Lead) - Jun 29, 2012
- Budget allows airlines to access foreign funds (Second Lead) - Mar 16, 2012
- Push key reforms: Industry's budget wish list - Feb 03, 2012
- Petrol price hiked by Rs.6.28 plus taxes, industry welcomes move (Second Lead) - May 23, 2012
- Chinese provinces mull tax reform - Jun 11, 2012
Tags: air polluters, budget preparation, cess, chief minister, cigarettes, commercial organisations, finance department, himachal pradesh government, imposition, infrastructure projects, liquor, non governmental organisations, principal secretary, secretary finance, shimla, srikant, state budget, steep hike, tobacco products, vat