Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 9: Government today said there is no proposal to exempt the helicopter service from Katra to Vaishno Devi shrine, from the service tax imposed on commercial chopper services in the State.
Finance Minister Haseeb A Drabu said in a written reply to a question in the Assembly said: “At the moment there is no proposal for exemption with the Government.”
National Conference MLA from Nagrota Devender Rana had asked if the State Government intended to exempt the helicopter services to the revered shrines in Reasi district of the State from the 12.5 per cent service tax imposed on commercial helicopter services.
Although the question could not be taken up during Question Hour, Rana raised the issue in the Zero Hour.
“There is a contradiction. Today the Finance Minister says there is no proposal for exemption while I was assured during the District Development Board meeting in Jammu by Deputy Chief Minister that the tax on pilgrimage service will be withdrawn. Now they say no exemption is given. I appeal the Government that the tax should be withdrawn”, he said.
The Finance Department on September 2 this year issued a notification levying a sales tax of 12.5 per cent on the “commercial helicopter services operating within the State”.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel