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The
govt. has imposed a 1% cess on any new or old construction
activity above 10 Lac rupees. This amounts to further
suppressing the growth of Punjab in the already slowing
down economy. The rates of real estate have taken a severe
beating ever since the formation of this govt. In the
beginning the govt. had imposed heavy charges on the
colonization business in Punjab, due to which only
corporate houses or big builders like DLF and Omaxe could
benefit. Now with this new 1% cess real estate business
would further dip in the state.
Similarly
imposition of heavy 10% luxury tax on hotels and banquet
halls will further lead to decline in this industry too.
It should be remembered that there is already 12.36%
service tax and 12.50% VAT on this industry. With this new
luxury tax the quantum of tax on hotel and marriage
palaces would shoot upto 35% which is unprecedented and
draconian. Levying of luxury tax on 5 Star hotels could be
understood but forcing this tax upon small hotels and
marriage palaces in the state would ruin their economy. I
call upon the hotel industry to rise against this anti
people step of the Govt.
As
we are aware that the Govt. of India has reduced the
prices of Diesel by Rs. 2 and Petrol by Rs.5, keeping in
view the decline of international prices of crude oil.
Unfortunately the present SAD-BJP Govt. has increased VAT
on these items which would have a direct bearing on our
transport trade and agriculture of the State.
There
is a complete financial mess in the State owing to poor
financial management by the govt. Its coffers are empty,
employees are not getting their dues, but if one were to
go by the sermons of Sukhbir Badal who has been building
castles in the air everyday, it seems as if there is a lot
of progress. Infact with new taxes being levied, the Govt.
has admitted to the fact that it is bankrupt and has
nothing to offer to the people besides cruelty in the
shape of taxes. Our steel industry of Gobindgarh is in a
mess so is our PSEB, therefore the Congress party demands
that the Govt. immediately withdraws all new taxes and
that also a white paper be issued by the Govt. on its
present financial situation in the interest of the people
in Punjab.
Source
: PunjabNewsline.com - Nagar, Punjab, India, dated
11/12/2008
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