Request to Chief Minister to withdraw Drought tax
October 3, 2015 Shri Devendra Fadnavis ji, Hon. Chief Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai. Sub: Request to immediately cancel the Drought Tax imposed on people of Maharashtra (barring Mumbai). Dear Sir, With effect from October 1, 2015, the State Government has levied a surcharge on petrol and diesel, liquor, jewellery, soft drinks and cigarettes. These new taxes are supposed to net the Govt Rs. 1600 crores. We understand that the state is reeling under a serious drought and the state government is groping as to how to deal with the situation and provide relief to the farmers. But I am sorry but levying such a surcharge is not the correct step. The BJP had, during the election campaign last year had continuously promised that it would scrap LBT and Toll. The govt is yet to fulfill fully this announcement. LBT was to be scrapped from October 1st, 2015. Levying of this drought surcharge has effectively nullified the effect of scrapping LBT. Sir, there is tremendous res...