The Meghalaya government will lose over Rs 6 crore with the state cabinet deciding to do away with fees on export of forest produce and some minor minerals outside the state.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting here on Monday, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said all these years, the government has imposed fees on export of forest produces like broomstick, bay leaf, bamboo, firewood and some minor minerals.

Tynsong said the lump sum export fee was imposed at Rs 1,000 per truck.

Admitting that the state government would lose revenue by doing away with the export fees, deputy chief minister, however, said the state cabinet has taken this decision to help the farmers.

According to him, by doing away with the export fees, it would also increase the supply of these products.

Asked about the revenue loss by the state, Tynsong said during 2018-19, the state government had collected Rs 6.63 crore from the said export fees.

The state cabinet has also decided to bring the Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, 2019, which was passed by both houses of Parliament in December.

Tynsong said the special session of the Assembly will be held to ratify the bill on January 20. The bill relates to extension of quota to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on December 10, and the Rajya Sabha passed it on December 12 and it should be ratified by the state Assemblies before sending to the President for his assent.

The cabinet also approved the list of VIPs who will take the salute and unfurl the Tricolour on Republic Day.