Get ready to pay more for electricity, buying liquor and vehicles in the city as Chandigarh Administration has imposed cow cess on these services. The Administration on Wednesday notified cow cess on buying of two wheelers and four wheelers, consumption of electricity, buying of country liquor, whisky and beer. The residents will have to shell out Rs 500 as cow cess for the purchase of four wheelers and Rs 200 for buying two wheelers in the city, the notification stated.
The electricity consumers will have to pay two paisa per unit as cow cess. The move will affect more than 2.25 lakh consumers of all categories. Apart from this, cow cess is also imposed on liquor bottles. Rs 5 each will be charged as cow cess on bottles of country liquor, whisky and beer in Chandigarh.
The cess will come into force from next financial year beginning April 1, 2020.
The notification has been issued after Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore’s approval to the civic body proposal of levying cow cess in the city.
It was in the year 2018 that the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) had recommended imposition of cow cess.
The MCC eyes annual income of Rs 10-12 crore from the cow cess. The UT Registering and Licensing Authority will collect the cow cess on commercial vehicles and give it to MCC. Similarly, the Excise and Taxation Commissioner will collect the cess on liquor and Superintending Engineer, Electricity (OP) circle on electricity and hand it over to MCC.
The imposition of cow cess in Chandigarh was modelled on the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955, that provides for a provision to levy cow cess. With the collection of cess, the MCC has planned to meet the expenses of three gaushalas and two cattle pounds, sheltering more than 1,000 cattle.
The MCC has also proposed to put in more resources to make the city free of stray cattle.
Only a day before, the UT Administration had notified the revised fine proposed by the MCC to deal with the problem of stray animals in the city. According to this, a fine of Rs 20000 will be imposed on the owners of livestock animals for letting loose Camel, Horse, Mare, Pony, Mule, Donkey, Pig, Buffalo, Cow, Bull, Bullock and Heifer in the municipal area of Chandigarh.
