Saurabh Sood
Shimla — The Himachal Pradesh government has revealed that it has collected over ₹762 crore through 10 different types of cesses, according to official data presented in the state assembly. The information was shared by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in response to a starred question (No. 2671) raised by Jaswan-Pragpur MLA Bikram Singh during the recent assembly session.
🥛 ₹75 Crore from ‘Milk Cess’ Spent on Dairy Welfare
One of the most notable cesses is the Milk Cess, levied on liquor bottles. The revenue generated from this cess — ₹75.17 crore — has been allocated to support dairy producers:
- Direct Payments to Farmers: ₹57.52 crore was paid directly to farmers for milk procurement.
- New Dairy Plant Investment: ₹17.65 crore was allocated to the Dairy Development Board for setting up a new dairy plant in Dhangwar, Kangra district.
👷 Labour Cess Fuels Worker Welfare
Significant revenue has also been generated through the Labour Cess, collected from construction and industrial activities:
- PWD Contributions: ₹45.73 crore transferred to the Labour Welfare Board from the Public Works Department.
- HPPCL Contributions: ₹4.67 crore deposited by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
🚗 Other Major Cesses and Revenue Breakdown
- Panchayati Raj Institution Cess: Over ₹153 crore collected.
- Motor Vehicle Cess: ₹185.13 crore collected between 2017 and 2025, with ₹3.06 crore spent by the Transport Department as of February 2025.
Additional cesses include the Cow Cess, Ambulance Service Fund Cess, and Natural Farming Cess (PK Cess). The government maintains that these levies are aimed at mobilizing resources for public welfare and targeted development initiatives.
