Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio presenting his budget speech for the year 2023-2024 on Monday proposed to allow sale of liquor to foreign nationals coming to the state which, he said, is permitted within the ambit of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, by certain hotels of star category.
“I do not propose to raise any new taxes in this budget. However, it must be stated that there is a pressing need for us to mobilise more resources to meet our increasing developmental needs” Rio said.
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Informing that Nagaland will be hosting a large number of foreign delegates for the G-20 business meet from 4 to 6 April in Kohima, Rio reminded that serving of liquor to foreign delegates and their associates is permissible under the NLTP Act.
He also stated that the need to allow sale of liquor to foreigners and their associates will give further push to tourism.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister informed that the state also intends to start exploration and extraction of oil in the Disturbed Areas Belt (DAB) once the Tripartite MOU with the Government of India and Assam is signed.
He shared his concerns over the state’s substantial loss in revenues due to non-extraction of oil while, the neighbouring state Assam continues to exploit the resources in the border areas.
Further, he informed that the state government will also explore the possibility of introducing sale of our own lotteries within Nagaland state to begin with.
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