The Bihar government has introduced an amnesty scheme for vehicle owners in the state to pay their pending motor vehicle tax with a limited penalty. The announcement was made after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The amnesty scheme allows owners of transport and non-transport vehicles, tractor-trailers, and battery-operated vehicles to pay their long-pending motor vehicle tax along with a 30% penalty.
According to S Siddhartha, additional chief secretary (cabinet secretariat), the owners of tractors and trailers will have to pay Rs 30,000 to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the transport department. This scheme will be applicable for Bihar-registered vehicles and will remain valid for six months.
In addition to the vehicle tax amnesty scheme, the cabinet also approved an additional budget for the extension and early completion of the Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) in Nawada district. The project aims to supply treated floodwaters of the Ganga to households in the district. The cabinet has approved Rs 340.89 crore for this purpose.
S Siddhartha mentioned that the project is being carried out at a rapid pace and will soon bring clean and treated Ganga water to the households in Nawada for drinking purposes. The GWSS was launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Gaya and Rajgir in November last year, and he had promised that the residents of Nawada would start receiving treated Ganga water from the following year. The scheme, which has a budget of Rs 4,515 crore, was approved in a special cabinet meeting in Gaya in December 2019.
The Bihar government’s decision to introduce an amnesty scheme for vehicle owners is aimed at resolving pending motor vehicle tax issues and ensuring compliance with the law. The limited penalty imposed on pending payments provides an opportunity for vehicle owners to clear their dues and avoid further legal consequences. The cabinet’s approval of the additional budget for the GWSS extension in Nawada reflects the government’s commitment to providing clean and treated Ganga water to households in the district. The completion of this project will greatly benefit the residents and improve their access to safe drinking water.
Overall, these initiatives by the Bihar government demonstrate its efforts to address important issues related to vehicle taxation and water supply. The vehicle tax amnesty scheme offers a way for owners to regularize their tax payments, while the GWSS extension project aims to enhance water infrastructure and improve the quality of life for the people of Nawada. By prioritizing these initiatives, the government seeks to promote compliance, public welfare, and sustainable development in the state.
