INDIA
The Maharashtra state government decided in September not to grant incentives to units manufacturing beer, liquor, cigarette, bidi, gutkha, and pan masala.
An official order issued by the industries department declared that units manufacturing beer, liquor, cigarette, bidi, gutkha, and pan masala will not be eligible for incentives under the package scheme of incentives 2013. “Under the package scheme of incentives, the state government is granting massive concessions in electricity duty, stamp duty and value added tax,” said a senior department official.
It was revealed that a high-level committee headed by chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya recommended not to grant incentives to these units, particularly in view of the fact that gutkha and pan masala have been banned in the entire state, while liquor and tobacco products are banned in some districts. Subsequently, at a meeting presided over by CM Devendra Fadnavis, it was decided to accept the recommendation made by the chief secretary’s committee. “New units will not be eligible for incentives. However, old units will continue to get the benefits,” he said.