Decision on octroi abolition in 2-3 days: Punjab CM

Khanna, Ludhiana, May 29 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced that the state government would take a decision on the proposed abolition of octroi within two to three days after a high level meeting in this regard.

Talking to newsmen after addressing a rally here, Capt Singh said that the state government would, however, have to look for an alternative revenue collection system after abolishing the octroi.

The Chief Minister said that state was earning an annual revenue of Rs 750 crore through octroi which could not be ignored in a single go and, thus, some alternative new tax system has to be implemented by the government.

''The finance minister, who is out to China, would return and hold the meeting regarding octroi within two-three days,'' he added.

The ruling Congress had promised the trading community to do away with the octroi system in its election manifesto during the 2002 assembly polls.

Capt Singh pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already given a directive that it was up to the Punjab government to decide whether to continue with the octroi system. But since this had been in the Congress manifesto, the government would surely abolish octroi, he added.

Earlier addressing the 'Labour Rally', the chief minister announced a special grant of Rs 21 crore for the sewerage and 100 per cent drinking water facility for Khanna township. He also announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for a 'Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan' and Rs ten lakh for Chaudhry Bhushan Bhawan.

The rally was also addressed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Shamsher Singh Dullo and Khanna MLA Ms Harbans Kaur Dullo, the wife of the PPCC president, besides other local Congress leaders.

UNI XC-PS VD ND1928