Govt decides to waive export fees on forest produces

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 13, 2020

SHILLONG: The state Cabinet has approved the proposal for doing away with the export fees on forest produces.

“We have decided to do away with the export fees on forest produces to help people generate revenue,” deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters after the meeting held on Monday.

He said the items which have been exempted from the export fees include broomstick, bamboo, bay leaf, firewoods, and minor minerals.

Asked, Tynsong said all these years, the state government has been collecting Rs 1,000 per trucks and the revenue generated from such collection was Rs 6.63 crore during 2018-2019.

Admitting that the decision is causing revenue loss to the state, the deputy chief minister however said a lot of petitions have been made to the forest department and the cabinet finally decided to approve the proposal.

He said that the decision on the other hand will benefit the small businessmen. “They will be able to increase production and supply which will in turn increase the revenue,” Tynsong said.