1.0pc new tax on tobacco imposed

Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed Thursday imposition of a new tax, health development surcharge, at the rate of 1.0 per cent in the new budget for the 2014-15 fiscal on import and production of tobacco products. This tax measure is in addition to the existing supplementary duty and the price slab on tobacco products.
He also proposed a new green tax, namely environment protection surcharge, at the same rate on the industrial units polluting environment to encourage them to set up effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and raise mass awareness about environment.