Bill to impose new tax on fuel passed

Chandigarh, March 10

Even as the Treasury Benches indulged in an “animated” debate on respecting the sanctity of the House amid a prolonged disruption by SAD and AAP MLAs, 11 Bills were passed in just half an hour on the concluding day of the Budget session on Wednesday.

While the SAD MLAs walked out of the House and AAP MLAs continued their protest over the announcements in the Budget, an amendment to the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021, was passed.

This would enable the state government to impose a special infrastructure development fee at the rate of Rs 0.25 per litre each on the sale of petrol and diesel within the state, and levy a special fee on the purchase of immovable property in the state. This would help generate an additional revenue of Rs 216.16 crore.

The Assembly also passed an amendment to the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, thus enabling the state government to increase road tax from time to time without taking the legislative route every time. Besides, the state is all set to impose green tax or environment tax as per the vehicle scarp policy being framed by the Centre.

In the amendment passed by the Assembly, a provision has been made for the imposition of a green tax of Rs 50,000 at the time of renewal of registration certificate for non-transport vehicles and Rs 50,000 after eight years per annum for transport vehicle.

The other Bills passed in the Assembly are the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulations) Amendment Bill, Punjab Apartment Ownership (Amendment) Bill; the Punjab Regional and Town Planning, Development (Amendment) Bill; the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations (Amendment) Bill; the Punjab School Education Board (Amendment) Bill; the Punjab Anti-Red Tape Bill; the Sardar Beant Singh State University Bill; the Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University Bill; and the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Bill. — TNS

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