PATNA: The Nitish Kumar cabinet has waived tax on export and bottling fee on Indian Made Foreign Liquor and beer manufactured in the state to help the industry find better market outside Bihar, a dry state.

Such a proposal of Excise and Prohibition department was approved at a meeting of state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Briefing about cabinet meeting, Principal Secretary of Cabinet Coordination Department Brajesh Mehrotra said consumption and trade of liquor are prohibited in the state but there is no ban on manufacturing and bottling. The decision would help people involved in liquor manufacturing in the state find better market for export of IMFL and beer in other states, he said. In another major decision, the Cabinet doubled the assistance to war veterans of World War II and to their wives after their death to Rs 10,000 per month from Rs 5000 every month earlier, Mehrotra added. There are 61 such beneficiaries in the state. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to enhance water cess for industrial, commercial and municipal usage to Rs 18 per thousand gallon from current Rs 4.50 per thousand gallon. In another decision, the Cabinet okayed a proposal of Land and Revenue department to permit use of government and departmental land for implementation of a scheme to supply piped water to every household. The scheme, which was launched today, was a key component of the Chief Minister’s seven resolves.—PTI