The percentage of octroi collection from tobacco products like cigarettes and Gutkha in the overall octroi collection of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has shown a gradual rise over the last few years with a negligible decline in 2009-10.The average figure of octroi collection from tobacco products in last two years, which stands over whopping Rs 14 crore annually, implies towards the bulk arrival of tobacco products in the city limits in proportion to meet the the growing demand.
Octroi can be a key indicator for assessing the import of tobacco products in the city limits, which otherwise can be difficult to measure as tobacco companies found unwilling to share these kind of database.Cigarettes, cigars and piped tobacco received huge demand within city markets during last few years as octroi collection from these products formed the major chunk of total octroi.
The civic body, which had charged seven per cent octroi on these items for last couple of years, generated revenue worth Rs 13.47 crore and Rs 13.89 crore in 2008-09 and last fiscal respectively.Next to it was the Gutkha, scented tobacco and Pan Masala, rated by health experts as the most danger form of tobacco products.
The statistics, available with the PMC octroi department, show that the country have imported cigarettes and cigars also have considerable demand in the city.
Despite measures at government level and by NGOs to spread mass awareness about the ill effects of tobacco intake, the ‘silent killer’ seems to be difficult to get eradicated as a habit.
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