Jharkhand waives VAT on sugar     

The Jharkhand Cabinet has waived the 12.5 per cent VAT on sugar till December 31 this year. However, VAT will be charged on imported sugar from January 1, 2011. The Cabinet co-ordination department principal secretary Aditya Swaroop said that the price of sugar in the open market is likely to come down by at least Rs 5 a kg from the present price of Rs 45-46 a kg.

The Cabinet also fixed deadlines for a series of tasks in the state government offices. From now, caste certificates will be issued by the offices of the deputy commissioner within three weeks from the date of filing of application.

Income and residential certificates will be issued within 14 working days, ration cards under the public distribution system (PDS) will be available within 15 days and birth and death certificates within seven days.

Mutation of land will be settled within 21 days. The Cabinet sanctioned 117 check dams across the state under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program.

Ninety per cent of the cost of the Rs 166-crore project will be borne by the Centre.

The state government will take the services of 17 retired employees from the office of the Accountant General, Jharkhand on contract basis for checking balance sheets.

Source: The Business Standard, India, dated 01/02/2010