CMs' panel bats for fuel cess to fund Swachh Bharat

Petrol and diesel as well as telephony services may cost more if the government accepts recommendations of a panel of Chief Ministers to levy a cess on these to fund Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.
The Niti Aayog Chief Minister's sub-group on Swachh Bharat with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu as convener today submitted its report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Complimenting the Chief Ministers for their efforts, the Prime Minister said: "The task of accomplishing Swachh Bharat, though difficult, is not impossible to achieve."
The report has also proposed a cess on accumulated waste produced by mineral waste generation plants like coal, aluminum and iron ore.

The Finance Bill 2015 has mandated the government to levy Swachh Bharat Cess at a rate of 2 per cent or less on all or certain services, if need be.
"The sharing pattern of funds for this programme between the Centre and states may be in the ratio of 75:25 while for hilly states, it may be kept at 90:10.

"A Swachh Bharat Cess may be levied by the central government on petrol, diesel, telecom services and also on accumulated waste produced by mineral waste generation plants like coal, aluminum, and iron ore," the report said.
A state-level Swachh Bharat Kosh may be set up on the lines of the Swachh Bharat Kosh set up at the central level, it added.

The committee was set up to examine financial requirements for comprehensive implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission and to suggest measures for meeting budgetary needs and recommend robust institutional mechanisms for effective implementation, among others.
The report further said a certain part of the "CSR contributions by PSUs/companies" may be spent in states where they are located.
It also made a case for issuance of Swachh Bharat bonds by central and state governments to raise resources for the programme, which was launched by Modi last year.