Diesel cars to cost more in Delhi

Delhiites will have to pay more for diesel vehicles,furnishings and sweetmeats,while bicycles,kerosene stoves,lanterns and petromax lamps will become cheaper as per the tax proposals made by chief minister Sheila Dikshit in her R27,067 crore state Budget for 2011-12.

Delhiites will have to pay more for diesel vehicles,furnishings and sweetmeats,while bicycles,kerosene stoves,lanterns and petromax lamps will become cheaper as per the tax proposals made by chief minister Sheila Dikshit in her R27,067 crore state Budget for 2011-12.

Dikshit proposed to increase the registration fee on diesel vehicles by 25% and imposed a 12.5% value-added tax on un-manufactured tobacco,making bidis and hookah smoking more expensive.

Bicycles priced up to R3,500,kerosene stoves,lanterns and petromax lamps are exempted from VAT. Terming cycling to be a healthy and non-polluting mode of transportation which needs encouragement and protection of the government,Dikshit proposed to give relief to the aam-admmis preferred mode of commutation by removing VAT on bicycles having an MRP of up to R3,500.

Sanitary napkins costing up to R20,Khandsari sugar and textiles have also been exempted from VAT. Cooked food commonly known as Jan Ahar costing R15 per thali has also be exempted from VAT while the same on sweetmeats and snacks has been raised to 12.5% from the current 5%. Industrial textiles such as canvas belts,filter clothes and furnishing will be taxed at 5%.

We are particularly concerned about the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases among Delhis citizens. Diabetes and hypertension are some of the unfortunate byproducts of our city life and unhealthy eating habits,even among our children,need to be addressed, the chief minister said.

Dikshit presented a Budget of R27,067 crore for the next fiscal with a plan outlay of R13,600 crore and a non-plan expenditure of R13,307.

The chief minister announced a total of 14,000 new staff in schools and enhanced scholarships for students. A R100 crore corpus has been set up for a universal free health scheme that is expected to benefit 27 lakh school-going children. Dikshit also raised the MLA fund from R 2 crore to R 2.5 crore.