Shimla, April 2
Liquor will be cheaper in the hill state with the cabinet today deciding to slash VAT from 20 per cent to 4 per cent on both country liquor and Indian-made foreign Liquor.
The excise policy was reviewed and it was found that as many as 233 liquor vends still remained unsold. Most of these vends were in Sirmaur and Kangra districts. It was decided that the remaining vends be allotted to the state tourism development corporation on the same terms and conditions as applicable to other buyers.
It also decided to reduce the stamp duty on registration, conveyance, gift and mortgage from the existing 8 per cent to 5 per cent. The cabinet approved the fertiliser policy for 2007-08 to provide subsided fertilisers up to maximum of three bags per farmer per season. This, along with the transport subsidy, would cost the government Rs 4.28 crore.
It also approved the state private clinical establishment registration bill aimed at ensuring minimum standards to be maintained by private clinics.
It approved guarantee to the state power board for non-SLR bonds to raise Rs 117 crore for the Sawra Kuddu project.
It also decided to upgrade 75 posts of senior assistant as superintendent (grade II) in all block medical offices.
The cabinet allotted three power projects to private developers, which included the 24-MW Kuth project. it further decided to
readvertise four projects, including the 90-MW Koksar.
