For the welfare of cows in Punjab, SAD-BJP led Punjab Government will soon levy cess on several items, including liquor, vehicles and electricity.
“Cow cess on various items will be levied in the State and the amount collected will be spent on cattle and their welfare,” said Punjab local Bodies Minister and BJP MlA from Amritsar Anil Joshi on Sunday.
The local Bodies department has proposed to levy cow cess at the rate of `1,000 on the purchase of four-wheeler, `500 on purchase of two-wheeler, `100 on oil tanker, two paise per unit of electricity consumption, `1,000 on booking of AC hall of marriage palace, `500 on booking of non-AC hall, `1 per cement bag, `10 per bottle of Indian Made Foreign liquor and `five per bottle on Punjab Medium liquor, he said.
Joshi said that out of 154 municipal councils, 33 have passed the resolution while seven municipal corporations out of ten have also endorsed the decision to levy cess. A notification in this regard will be issued by May 25, he said.
The Government had approved the proposal for levying cow cess throughout the state in 2014 but the enforcement was pending in all municipal councils and corporations.
In Bhatinda, the cow cess was first levied in 2009 on experimental basis, while it was imposed in Mohali about three months back. Amritsar Municipal Corporation is yet to pass a resolution in this regard, said Punjab Gau Sewa Commission chairman Keemti Bhagat. Bhagat said that the state would net around `90-100 crore per annum from the cess, which can be spent on the welfare of cows.
Punjab Gau Sewa Commission chairman said that there are 2.69 lakh cows in the state in 472 shelters, while there are 1.06 lakh stray cows. “In last two years, 280 people lost their lives because of accidents involving stray cattle in the state,” he added. He said that as per Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, it is the responsibility of Municipal bodies to look after cattle in the State.