To fill the empty coffers of the state, a tax was imposed on the tourism industry: Khanna
A delegation of Azad Taxi Union Punjab met BJP state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna. The headquarters of this union is in Moga Punjab. Representatives of Azad Taxi Union placed before them the problems of taxis or carriers coming within Himachal Pradesh.
BJP state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna said that the economic condition of Himachal Pradesh is getting worse every day, even though its coffers are empty, but to fill them, heavy taxes are being imposed on transactions coming from outside, this is unfortunate. The backbone of the state of Himachal Pradesh is the tourists coming from outside and by taking such anti-tourism decisions, the present Congress government has shown that it is not with the tourists coming from outside.
He said that recently on July 11, 2023, the Himachal Pradesh government through its transport department had issued a revised notification in which a tax of Rs 3000, 4000 and 5000 per day was imposed on tourist vehicles coming from heavy states.
Subsequently, on 4 August 2023, SK Geeva, Under Secretary to the Government of India, wrote a letter to the Principal Secretary of the Transport Department of Himachal Pradesh and all the State Governments and asked that I am directed to say that it has come to the notice of the Ministry That some states are imposing taxes in the form of passenger tax, border tax, check post tax etc. from tourist vehicles plying under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023.
It is clearly written in the letter that under sub-sections (9) and (14) of Section 88 of the MV Act, 1988, the Central Government is empowered to make rules for the purpose of promoting tourism and to grant permits in respect of tourist vehicles valid for the whole of India. Have the right. The All India Township Vehicles (Permits) Rules, 2023 were made with the objective of facilitating seamless and hassle-free movement of tourist vehicles across the country on bill of permits issued after payment of fees prescribed in the table referred to in Rule 3. All India Tourist Vehicle (Permit) Rules, 2023 without levying any other tax charges. It is pertinent to mention here that the permit fee collected under Rule 3 is distributed among the States and Union Territories in the next month as per the formula prescribed in sub-rule (2) of Rule 3 of the All India Tourist Vehicle (Permit) Rules, 2023 And in view of the above facts, all States and Union Territories are advised not to levy any other tax on tourist vehicles plying under valid permits issued under the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 throughout the country. Or don’t charge.
Despite this letter, the state government issued an advisory letter on 21 August 2023 through its Additional Commissioner Transport in which all RTOs and additional RTOs were asked to implement the heavy fee imposed by the state from 1 September 2023. This shows the full intention of the state government that the government wanted to implement its orders in the state as soon as possible.
He said that I have written a letter in this regard to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Governor Shiv Prapat Shukla, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and have sent a proposal to take a decision with sensitivity in this regard.
We feel that the decision of the state government has dealt a big blow to the tourism department and tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh.
