By Verinder Sareen
NAWANSHAHR: Imposition of a new development tax in state’s budget yesterday at the rate of Rs 200 per month from income-tax payees engaged in professions, trades, callings and employments etc has not gone down well with the tax payers here.
Businessman Kewal Arora said that in the absence of any slab, all whether they earn Rs 25,000 per month or Rs 25 lakh or even more per month will have to pay a tax of Rs 2400 per year. “And if a family has three tax payers, it will have to shell out Rs 7200 per year in the form of development tax which is grossly unfair,” he said.
SAD leader Shankar Duggal said that after making tall promises on poll eve now when the Capt government found the going tough, it had started imposing taxes which were nothing short of ‘zazia’.
Arunesh Kumar, a retired school teacher, said that instead of imposing a new development tax, the state finance minister should have focused on rationalising various subsidies including their withdrawal from the well-off farmers, besides ensuring a cut in the wasteful expenditure being indulged in during the visits of ministers across the state.
A government employee said that imposing another tax on people who are already paying income tax cannot be termed a wise move on the part of state finance minister.
A housewife too maintained that taxing the income tax payers was the prerogative of union government and the state governments had no business in imposing more taxes on them.
Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, SAD MLA from Banga, lamented neglect of his constituency in the budget for the consecutive second year. He said the state government should at least ensure release of Rs 12 crore grant which it had withdrawn on coming to power.
Meanwhile, congress’ MLAs here have welcomed the budget. Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh said that relining of Bist-Doab canal at a cost of Rs 50 crore would help in completion of its relining. He further welcomed finance minister’s assurance to complete the judicial complex here during the coming year. Balachaur MLA Darshan Lal Mangupur welcomed budgetary provisions for improving water supply in the water-starved Kandi area of the district. He also welcomed provision for a bus stand for Balachaur in the budget. Bringing nearly 4,000 acres under forest cover in Kandi is also an initiative which deserves welcome, he said. Cane growers too have welcomed budgetary provision for them as it would ensure timely payment for their produce.
