Odisha exempts methanol from import fee & excise duty for Biodiesel production

The BJP-led Odisha government gave a nod to exempt methanol (methyl alcohol) from import fee and excise duty. The methanol is used for the production of biodiesel. Presided by CM Mohan Majhi, the decision was taken by the state cabinet on August 7.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling recently made the announcement regarding the decision in the Assembly. The state government has taken the decision by using powers under section 96 of the Odisha Excise Act, 2008. The state cabinet during the meeting approved the proposal to take out methanol used for the production of biodiesel from the purview of the Odisha Excise Act 2008.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved the proposal to exempt stamp duty of Rs 3.37 crore and a registration fee of Rs 1.13 crore for a lease deed of 53.27 acre of government land and 54.43 acre of private land in favour of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for development of Veer Surendra Sai airport at Jharsuguda.

The decision was approved as per the agreement signed between AAI and Odisha government to develop the airport as the second commercial airport of the state.

Moreover, the cabinet also decided to provide 1.710 decimal land on lease for expansion of the composite regional centre under SVNIRTAR to facilitate the provision of more amenities for specially challenged persons.

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The land will be provided to SVNIRTAR without any premium or other expenditure, with Rs 11.07 crore exempt, Mahaling said in the Assembly.