Goa budget levies green tax on petroleum products, plastic

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today presented a Rs 10,053.24 crore budget for the 2013-14 fiscal in the Assembly, imposing some new levies to increase the revenue, but projecting a fiscal deficit of Rs 1,365 crore.
Parrikar, who also holds the finance portfolio, has levied tax on non-biodegradable packing material (plastic) at 2 per cent on sales value and green tax on petroleum products at 0.5 per cent.
The Chief Minister also marginally increased tax on IMFL and beer, raised licence fees for distilleries, imposed infrastructure tax on residential and commercial buildings between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per square metre depending upon the area.

The budget showed revenue receipts at Rs 6,108 crore and revenue expenditure at Rs 6,311 crore resulting in revenue deficit of Rs 203 crore while it projected capital receipts at Rs 1,723 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 2,376 crore leading to capital deficit of Rs 653 crore.
The chief minister said that as against the last year's budgeted revenue collection of Rs 1,000 crore from the mining industry, this time, he has projected collection of Rs 100-200 crore from the industry where the activity has come to a halt following a directive by the Supreme Court.
He has also allowed exemption in payment of certain taxes and fees for people affected by ban on mining and the measure is expected to benefit truck and barge owners.