Kerala govt to exempt autorickshaws from ‘green tax’


PTI, Mar 16, 2022, 6:28 PM IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Wednesday said autorickshaws would be exempted from the ‘green tax’ imposed on diesel vehicles, announced in the recent state budget.

The minister informed the Assembly about the new decision during his reply on the three-day-long general discussion on the budget which concluded here this evening.

The ‘green tax’ imposed on the old vehicles (above 15 years) was increased by 50 per cent in the budget for 2022-23 fiscal, presented last week.

While presenting the budget, he had said it was necessary to discourage the use of diesel vehicles and encourage electric vehicles.

“It is decided to exempt autorickshaws from the tax imposed on diesel vehicles….Green tax is not about money but it is a message,” Balagopal said today. He also said the government is not in a position to increase the welfare pension right now due to the cash crunch as even a mere hike of Rs 1,000 would cost the state exchequer Rs 1,000 crore. However, he assured the House that the government would take stringent measures to reclaim the pension amount received by undeserved people.

Giving MLAs a reason to cheer, he said the asset development fund of legislators, which was slashed from Rs five crore to Rs one crore each to meet the emergency needs during the outbreak of COVID-19, would be reinstated as such.

Additional projects worth over Rs 45 crore, which did not find place in the budget, were announced by the minister during the reply.

The Left government in Kerala on Friday presented a budget which made huge allocations to information technology, industries and infrastructure.

The first complete budget of the second term of the Pinarayi Vijayan-headed government for the fiscal 2022-23 found a place in the history of the State Assembly as the first-ever paperless budget as Balagopal presented it through an i-pad.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Farooq Abdullah seeks inquiry into spike in terror attacks in Valley since Omar’s swearing-in

Sabarimala pilgrims to get free insurance coverage of Rs five lakh

Delhi: Woman chops off her husband’s private parts

Man who threw stub near CRPF school among 50 questioned, not certain if he triggered blast: police

Train movement in Assam’s Lumding Badarpur hill section resumes

TTD chief says only Hindu staff in Tirumala, while Centre wants non-Muslims in Waqf Boards: Owaisi

Those snatching central univ teachers’ right of reservation lecturing others: Kharge

Related Articles More

Farooq Abdullah seeks inquiry into spike in terror attacks in Valley since Omar’s swearing-in

Sabarimala pilgrims to get free insurance coverage of Rs five lakh

Delhi: Woman chops off her husband’s private parts

Man who threw stub near CRPF school among 50 questioned, not certain if he triggered blast: police

Train movement in Assam’s Lumding Badarpur hill section resumes

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Farooq Abdullah seeks inquiry into spike in terror attacks in Valley since Omar’s swearing-in

Sabarimala pilgrims to get free insurance coverage of Rs five lakh

Delhi: Woman chops off her husband’s private parts

Man who threw stub near CRPF school among 50 questioned, not certain if he triggered blast: police

Revisiting work done before England series helped during this knock: Gill

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.