Assam govt slashes VAT on CNG to 5% till March 2027

In a cabinet meeting on Thursday, the Assam government approved slashing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from the present 14.5 percent to 5 percent till March 31, 2027.

The decision was taken in a bid to mitigate air pollution through the use of clean fuel. "This will rationalize prices for consumers and augment its wider adoption," the state government said.

The Assam Cabinet also approved a Bill to abolish the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935, which permitted underage marriages under specific conditions, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The Repealing Bill 2024 will be presented during the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly.

Additionally, funds were allocated for the development of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas, and financial approval was given for key healthcare initiatives. Cabinet ministers are now mandated to visit the Barak Valley every month.

The meeting approved a financial sanction of ₹200 crore for the Assam Cancer Care Foundation to support the Assam Cancer Care Project for 2024-25. This project includes the establishment of 17 cancer care hospitals, expected to benefit around 30,000 patients annually, the CM said.

To ensure continued free-of-cost treatment for the poor, the Cabinet approved ₹375 crore for the Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Asom Yojana (MMAAY) for 2024-25. Under MMAAY, families receive cashless medical benefits up to ₹5 lakh per year, covering 36 lakh families.

The Cabinet also mandated that ministers visit the three Barak Valley districts every month for three days on a rotational basis to ensure the proper implementation of good governance initiatives.

The Cabinet approved release of ₹401.50 crore to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) as first instalment for the fiscal 2024-45 under the SOPD-G fund, the CM added.

(With inputs from agencies)