Ludhiana, August 17
The state government has decided to abolish the local taxes on the food processing industry, following the footsteps of the Central Government that has abolished 16 per cent central excise duty on these industries.

The taxes would be waived off on various foodgrains, vegetables and fruits that would be purchased by the processing units. This was disclosed by Mr C.L. Bains, Finance Commissioner Development, Government of Punjab, while talking to The Tribune here today. Mr Bains was here to participate in a function at PAU.

Mr Bains said the Chief Minister had already signed the proposal following the lines of the Central Government and the notification would be issued within a day or two. He said the decision was taken to encourage the processing of vegetables and foodgrains in order to meet the demand of the international market in view of the WTO.

Mr Bains also said the state government had cancelled the plan to develop a bio-tech green house project at the Laddowal farm. He said the project would be started near Jalandhar as the experts had found that the Laddowal farm land was not fit for this project.

He also said the state would set up five kinnow estates in the state to encourage the production of kinnows. The five places which would be developed as kinnow estates include Hoshiarpur, Kang Mai, Ferozepur, Abohar and Talliwala Jatta.