zebras

"Cut 36% customs duty please" K Rosaiah Govt

12 ZEBRAS FOR HYDERABAD , 

VISAKAPATINAM AND TIRUPATI ZOOS 

FROM SOUTH AFRICA

By R Rajagopalan

Andhra Pradesh Government purchased 12 Zebras animals

from South Africa for three Zoos in Hyderabad, Visakapatinam and Tirupati.

Unable to pay the 36% customs duty for import of 12 Zebras

State Government wants Union Minister of Finance Pranab Mukherjee 

to waive, which runs into somewhat 18 lakhs of rupees.

Enclosing the representation from Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy

Minister for Environment Government of Andhra Pradesh, 

Jairam Ramesh who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh 

and holding the position as Environmnet Minister wrote an unusual

request to waive the 36% customs duty to save the 12 zebras.

Pranab Mukherjee Finance Minister who is a Chanakya of UPA2

is presently examining the plea of Andhra Pradesh Government.

In his letter Jairam Ramesh wrote to Pranab argued that

Andhra Pradesh Government is procuring 12 Zebras

from South Africa for the 3 Government run Zoos in the state

at Hyderabad, Visakapatinam and Tirupati. all formalities have been

completed

Jairam added that .Unfortunately customs duty to be paid at 36% of the value

of animals imported. This is simply beyond the capacity of these zoos

and is also beyond capacity of Central Zoo Authority to support.

Pleading for exemption, Jairam Ramesh said, 

"I request you to kindly exempt this import of zebras on Government

account for a Government run zoo from payment of Customs duty

Ended his letter jairam ramesh in a cordial note said

 "I am writing to you with a somewhat unusual request" "

ends