CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda here Tuesday decided to amend the Haryana Value Added Tax (VAT) Rules, 2003 for revision of the lump sum (tax) rates prescribed in case of Brick Kiln Owners (BKOs) in view of the hardship being faced by them.

It was decided to amend the lump sum tax rates on brick kiln which were revised for the period from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006. These rates would now be effective retrospectively from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2008.

It may be recalled that in a meeting which the Haryana Pradesh Brick Kiln Owners Association had held with the Chief Minister, they gave an undertaking that they would accept an increase of 20 per cent in the rate of tax thereafter. The Association has, therefore, already submitted its undertaking to this effect.

As per the rates of lump sum tax, which were earlier effective from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006, brick kilns of capacity of more than 33 'ghori' of plus 'A' category were paying a lump sum amount of Rs.2.24 lakh plus Rs.7800 per 'ghori' in addition to the 33 'ghori'. Brick kilns of capacity of 28 to 33 'ghori' falling in A category were paying Rs.2.24 lakh.

Similarly, in case of brick kilns of capacity of 22 to 27 'ghori' falling in category 'B', used to pay Rs.1.75 lakh and those having less than 22 'ghori' and falling in 'C' category were have to pay Rs.1.40 lakh. In case of brick kiln not fired during the year ending September 30, 2006, in which stock in and outside the kiln as on October 1, 2005 last, did not exceed five lakh bricks of all categories and fall in 'D' category were to pay Rs.35,000. In case a kiln is designed to be fired at two places, the rate of lump sum payable by the owner of such kiln would be doubled of the above mentioned rates.