In a completely contrasting move to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s call for a nationwide liquor ban, his government on Tuesday waived off all taxes on liquor manufacturing units in the state.
The government has approved the proposal from the Excise and Prohibition Department to excuse the liquor manufacturing units from any tax on exporting of the product and bottling fee in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday chaired by the Chief Minister.
The state government has taken the decision after liquor-manufacturing companies hinted at closing down their plants in the dry state.
The tax benefits will also be applicable for those, who are planning to set up a bottling plant in the state. The only condition is that they will sell the liquor outside Bihar.
The state is likely to incur a revenue loss of nearly Rs 7 crore because of the exemptions.
Incidentally, the Bihar Cabinet announced these incentives on a day when family members of liquor bottling plant workers protested against total prohibition at Mokama in rural Patna.
Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy: www.theliquorshops.com
