The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to bring direct to home(DTH) TV services under entertainment duty tax.
A top official defended the government’s decision saying since entertainment duty is already being imposed on cable television, the cabinet approved extending it to DTH services.
But this will only be implemented once the existing law is amended in the state Assembly.
The cabinet on Thursday also decided to exempt new aerial ropeways from entertainment duty for five years.
Permission was given to amend section 26 of the state excise bill, 2009.
It was also decided to reduce entertainment duty from 25 per cent to 15 per cent for existing ropeways. Duty had been imposed this financial year on four ropeways operating at Timber Trail,Solang,Naina Devi and Jabli.
The Cabinet also gave approval for constructing multi-storeyed bus stands at Palampur and Rohru under private public partnership (PPP) mode.