The Jharkhand Government promulgated an ordinance to levy ‘COVID Cess’ on Mineral Bearing lands for mitigating the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action to promulgate an Ordinance to provide the levy of Cess on Mineral Bearing Land for the Rehabilitation/Employment of Labourers/ Migrant Labourers, creating infrastructures in the field of Cottage/Village Industries, Msme, Creating Employment Opportunities, Mitigating the hardships caused due to Loss of Jobs, augmenting the existing Health Infrastructures and for other necessary purposes in the State of Jharkhand arising out of disaster by way of COVID-19 Pandemic,” the notification said.
The cabinet also approved the promulgation of the Jharkhand Mineral Bearing Land (COVID-19 Pandemic) Cess Ordinance 2020. As per the ordinance, a cess of Rs 10 will be levied on every metric ton of coal dispatched. Likewise, cess on iron ore will be Rs 5 per metric ton. Cess on bauxite will be Rs 20 (per metric ton), Rs 10 on limestone, and Rs 5 on manganese.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, cabinet secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said diesel will now cost Rs 66.83 a liter while petrol will be priced at Rs 73.24. The cabinet also okayed a proposal to raise VAT in aviation turbine fuel to by 16 percent. The increase will bring an additional Rs 35 crore to the state coffers.
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