New Delhi, January 2: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday approved a proposal for two per cent‘ cow welfare cess’ in the state, with an aim to protect stray cows. The state cabinet also showed a green signal for temporary 'gauvansh ashray asthals' under the urban and rural civic bodies.

But Uttar Pradesh is not the first state to impose such a tax. Earlier, states and Union territory like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh too have imposed ‘cow welfare cess’ to protect stray cattle. Gau Kalyan Cess Imposed by Yogi Adityanath Led UP Government to Protect Stray Cow, Alcohol Prices May Rise.

Previously in June 2018, the Vasundhara Raje government had imposed a 20 percent surcharge for cow protection on all varieties of liquor sold in the state, under the Rajasthan Value Added Tax (VAT) Act 2003. The state government has imposed this cess in addition to the 20 percent surcharge on stamp duty for the same cause.

On a similar note, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation approved the imposition of ‘cow cess’ for the protection and maintenance of its cows in city gaushalas. It had imposed a ‘cow cess’ of Rs 500 on a four-wheeler, Rs 200 on a two-wheeler, two paise per unit on electricity and Rs 5 per bottle on beer sold within municipal corporation limits.

Even Punjab civic bodies too imposed a ‘cow cess’. Under this scheme, civilians would have to shed Rs 1,000 on the purchase of four wheeler, Rs 500 on purchase of two-wheeler, Rs 100 on oil tanker, 2 paisa per unit of electricity consumption, Rs 1,000 on booking of AC hall of marriage palace, Rs 500 on booking of non-AC hall, Re 1 per cement bag, Rs 10 per bottle of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Rs 5 per bottle on Punjab Medium Liquor.

In Haryana, the state government had proposed to levy Rs 2,100 on booking of a banquet hall, 5 per cent cess on the collection of entertainment tax, Re 1 per bag of foodgrain and sought 50 per cent collections of donations from state-managed temples.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 02, 2019 01:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).