Maha does away with edu sub-cess on betel nuts

Thane, Oct 24: The Maharashtra Government has declared that the educational Sub-Cess ( Upa-kar) which was being levied on betel nuts would be done away with and this decision would be implemented by passing a legislation in the next session of the house, which is slated to be held at the end of this year.

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali this announcement has come as a boon for hundreds of betel nut (supari) growers from the Konkan region, especially Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurgh.

Local MLC Mr Kelkar told sources that Maharashtra was the only state which levied this draconian tax on betel nuts.

He hoped that this belated decision of the government would benefit hundreds of betel nut growers, boosting exports and earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.

The government used to collect Rs 300 per hectare, from betel nut growers.

Meanwhile, according to official reports the betelnut palm which is widely grown in South Asia, particularly India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, is renowned for it's stimulating properties.

India is the most important betelnut palm growing country in the world. The production of betelnuts has increased from around 75,000 tonnes in 1955 to 3,30,000 tonnes in 2003 and its cultivation in India is now spread out over 2,90,000 hectares of land.

The Maharashtra Government has also lifted the imposition of VAT on coconuts, Mr Kelkar added.

UNI