The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to promulgate an Ordinance to raise the tax collectible from State lottery operators selling lotteries in the State.
The measure is proposed against the background of reduction of number of draws of lotteries to once a week on orders of the High Court. The Kerala Taxes on Paper Lotteries Act is proposed to be amended to offset the revenue loss resulting from reduction in number of draws.
Stringent provisions are proposed to be stipulated for acceptable of advance tax for selling the lotteries.
The Cabinet also decided to increase the procurement price of paddy from Rs. 12 a kg to Rs. 13 a kg for the current season. It sanctioned Rs. 718 crore for repair of State and district roads in the State.
Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan told the media after the Cabinet meeting that the State had sought Rs. 330 crore from the Centre for repair of the national highways. The works on all roads would be taken up immediately.
