MHA to take final call on cow cess

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20

Imposition of cow cess is all set to be delayed further as the UT Administration has decided to adopt the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, under which cow cess is also imposed, instead of issuing a draft notification for the same.

Sources said now the Administration would write to the Ministry of Home Affairs to extend the Act to impose cow cess in the city.

The sources said the decision to send the proposal for the adoption of the Punjab Act had been taken on the recommendations of the Legal Department.

The Municipal Corporation has already recommended for the imposition of cow cess in its meeting held on June, 2018. Later, the Administration approved the recommendation and asked the MC to impose the cess after inviting objections and suggestions from residents on the draft rules.

The MC again sent the draft to the UT Administration, which sought legal opinion on the issue. On the legal recommendation, it has now been decided to ask the Government of India to extend the Punjab Act in the city on the pattern of other acts of Punjab adopted here.

The cess has been imposed on the pattern of Punjab. As per the proposal, residents will have to pay Rs 500 as cow cess for the purchase of four-wheelers and Rs 200 for two-wheelers. Electricity consumers will have to pay 2 paisa per unit as cow cess. There are around 2 lakh electricity consumers in Chandigarh. The cess will also be imposed on liquor bottles and the rate has been fixed at Rs 5 per bottle for country liquor and Rs 10 and Rs 5 per bottle on whisky and beer, respectively.

How much will be charged 

• Rs 500 for the purchase of four-wheelers and Rs 200 for two-wheelers.
• Electricity consumers will have to pay 2 paisa per unit as cow cess. 
• The cess will also be imposed on liquor bottles and the rate has been fixed at Rs 5 per bottle for country liquor and Rs 10 and Rs 5 per bottle on whisky and beer, respectively.