Himachal Pradesh government decided to extend exemption on luxury tax on home stay schemes started by last BJP rule, as the tax holiday to such units ended on July 14 2013, to be given more exemption.
State Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr. Prakash Chaudhary today laid a bill in the house seeking extension of tax waiver on home stay units in operation in the state form July 15, 2008 meant for promotion of tourism in rural areas.
“It has been considered essential to extend the home stay scheme for another period of five years from 15 July 2013 to 14 July 2018 so that the proprietors of these units would come up to operation after getting further exemption from payment of luxury tax”, Mr. Chaudhary said citing reason for the amendment of Section 6-c of HP Tax on Luxuries (in hotels and lodging houses) Act 1979.
The new bill only exempts those hospitality units in rural areas falling beyond three kilometers from the ambit of tax fall in immediate outer limits of municipality excluding important tourist destinations specified in this scheme. The house would debate and pass bill soon.
Chief Minister Mr. Virbhadra Singh,who also hold charge of home, laid another bill for discussion today seeking state government control over enrollment of persons as volunteers of home guards.
The government has already approved it after promulgating ordinance by Governor of Himachal Pradesh Urmila Singh on Oct 4, 2013 now the bill would replace this ordinance to be discuss during this session. Earlier Commandant General of Home Guards had power to observe such person in the force without taking government approval.
