Bengal FM Proposes Rs 75cr Tax

Kolkata: The West Bengal Finance Minister, Dr Asim Dasgupta, delivering the State Budget for 2008-09 here on March 17 at the Assembly, anticipated a total expenditure of Rs 52,092.73 crore, against total receipts of Rs 52,015.73 crore, leaving an initial deficit of Rs 77 crore. The Finance Minister has also projected a string of measures, by way of revenue-raising effort, to raise Rs 75 crore as additional resources in the next financial year, thus leaving an uncovered deficit of Rs 2 crore. Dr Dasgupta has combined both tax reliefs and other facilities such as attractive medical benefit schemes for State Government employees and their families involving claim reimbursement for treatment in recognised private hospitals in addition to State Government hospitals. The tax on road rollers and shoes with MRP not exceeding Rs 750 has been decreased from 12.5 per cent to four per cent. The tax on tailoring items, kerosene stoves and biscuits not manufactured in factories defined under the Factories Act has been brought down from 12.5 per cent to four cent.