Patna: Bihar cabinet on Tuesday decided to increase sales- tax on diesel and petrol by 0 .5 and 1 percent respectively. The step has been taken to raise revenue to meet the loss caused due to total prohibition in the state. Last week, the state legislature during its monsoon session had aproved a government bill to raise VAT on 150 items including petrol and diesel.
The cabinet also approved proposals of the health department to terminate the services of Dr Uday Kumar, the then medical officer posted at Neemchak Batahani, Gaya, Dr Zareena Praween, the then medical officer of Chausa(Buxar), Dr Sunil Kumar Singh, the then medical officer of Kharagpur, Munger, for remaining absent from their places of posing for more than five years. Dr Singh was absent since July 2002. At the last cabinet meeting, eight doctors were dismissed. Services of the hen circle officer of Taraiya Saran, Manoj Kumar were also terminated.
The cabinet granted entertainment tax exempion to film `Gurtu-Gutarngu’ . It also decided to increase remuneration of experts engaged for conducting examinations by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). There were 17 items on agenda for discussion.