The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a proposal of the state forest department to do away with fees on export of forest products including some minor minerals.
The fee was charged for forest products and minor minerals exported outside the state.
After the Cabinet meeting, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that all these years, the government has collected export fees on forest produces like broomstick, bay leaf, bamboo, firewood, and some minor minerals.
Each truck ferrying these products used to pay Rs 1,000 as a lumpsum export fee.
When asked if the state government would lose revenue by doing away with the export fees, Tynsong admitted it however he said this decision was taken to help the farmers.
He added that by doing away with the export fees, the supply of these products would also increase.
On revenue loss to the state government, Tynsong said during 2018-19, the state government had collected Rs 6,63,53,740 from the export-fees.
The Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, 2019, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December last year, would also be tabled in the state Assembly during a special session on January 20.
Tynsong said the special session of the State Assembly will be held only to ratify the bill relating to an extension of quota to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
The bill should be ratified by state Assemblies in the country before sending it to the President for his assent.
Meanwhile, the names of VIPs, who will take the salute and unfurl the Tricolour on Republic Day, was also approved by the state Cabinet.