A high-level task force formed by the government to investigate the Rupee crisis the country has been facing pointed-out “high” vehicular import as its prime cause.
The report released on last Friday said, increasing number of vehicles also highly contributed to huge fuel consumption. It said, the economy’s fossil fuel consumption reached Nu 5.5B, which is about 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It recommended a 40 percent green tax on all vehicle imports.
National statistics have revealed that Bhutan imported 6,893 vehicles from India last year.
The task force also asked the government to abolish vehicle quota system, which public servants have been enjoying. It stated most quotas are sold to private sectors.
According to the finding, some 3,121 vehicles worth Nu 2.6B were imported through the quota system between 2002 and 2011. And, more than 56 percent of the total vehicles imported from third countries were also through the quota system, reported the government’s month piece on Saturday.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the government has been working to set up another private committee comprising “people outside the bureaucracy” to independently evaluate, stud and recommend on the financial crunch.
