Politicians demand scrapping of cow cess

Patiala, September 19

Many leaders today urged the Punjab Government to scrap the cow cess. Their demand came a day after a report that despite the rising cattle menace, the government departments, collecting crores per annum as cow cess, had failed to deposit it.

Former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh demanded that the tax be withdrawn immediately as the money was being pocketed by departments rather than being used to tackle the menace.

“The government is collecting the cess illegally and those who consider cow as sacred should come forward and help tackle the menace,” he said.

Former Patiala Mayor Amarinder Bazaz said the government must ensure that stray animals did not roam on the roads or else it should return the cess collected to people. “What is the idea of paying a tax when innocent people are dying every year due to bulls and cows hitting them on roads,” he said.

As per The Tribune report, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has collected over Rs 12 crore in the past three fiscals, but managed to deposit less than 50 per cent of the amount. —TNS