Chandigarh municipal corporation earns Rs 1.4 crore from Covid cess

CHANDIGARH: The municipal corporation (MC) has received Rs 1.42 crore from Covid cess imposed during the coronavirus pandemic at a time when it is battling a financial crunch and struggling to pay salaries to employees.
The civic body, however, is unable to spend even a single penny from the amount. It has to seek permission from the ministry of home affairs. Since the amount is significant, the MC is identifying areas where the money can be spent.
"As it is a special cess, we have to take permission from the ministry for expenditure. The UT administration has already sent a request in this regard. We are hopeful of a positive response soon," sources in the MC said.
The authorities had imposed 5% Covid cess on liquor in the city during the later days of May and in just a month, the authority has received a good amount. "The cess is imposed on every kind of liquor like whisky, beer and wine," said a senior official.