Infrastructure Cess announced

Infrastructure Cess announced
Vijay Times

Bangalore: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced a slew of policy initiatives, including imposition of Infrastructure Cess and construction of several satellite to wnships around the City to not only improve its infrastructure but also to reduce the population pressure on it.

The Infrastructure Cess, which had found a mention in the Budget statement, would be levied on several taxes being levied and also on the service sector . The resources collected would be utilised for Bangalore Metro Project and Bangalore International Airport project, he said.

Apart from this, a special policy providing various models of private-public participation (PPP) for improving the infrastructure would be unveiled.

A string of satellite to wnships would be developed at a radius of around 50 to 60 km around Bangalore to ease the population pr essure on the City .

As the land prices had been skyrocketing due to rising population, cases of land grabbing too had seen an alarming rise. The cases of construction of illegal structures on go vernment land and use of money and muscle po wer to grab land had become rampant, the Chief Minister said and promised that all such activities would be halted and stringent action would be taken against the culprits. S uch action would also help in mobilising huge resources for developmental works, he said. H e appealed for co-operation of all parties for his endeavour to eradicate the disparities between urban and rural areas.

The Chief Minister’s suo motu statement at the fag end of the Budget session came under strong protest from Opposition members. I t violated the procedures of conducting business in the H ouse, they contended and sought adequate time for debating the proposals.

Amidst arguments between the Opposition and treasury benches Speaker Krishna adjourned the H ouse sine die.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

4 Cess to be levied on several taxes, service sector

4 It is to be used for Metro Rail, airport projects

4 Many satellite towns around City planned

4 Move will help reduce population pressure on City

4 PPP mooted for infrastructure development

4 Crackdown on land mafia promised