Representatives of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN), an apex body of tourism stakeholders in north Bengal, have sent a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, requesting her to reconsider the decision to impose a VAT (value-added tax) at the rate of 12.5 per cent on the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at Bagdogra airport.

“We have sent a letter to the chief minister, requesting her to revoke the decision of imposing VAT on ATF at Bagdogra. If the state decides to continue with the waiver at the airport, it would largely help in augmenting the inflow of tourists in north Bengal, as it has been witnessed in recent years, barring the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary, HHTDN.

In August 2013, the state had entirely waived the VAT on ATF at Bagdogra. The initiative worked and many new flight services were introduced at Bagdogra, the second-largest airport in Bengal.

“This is because airline companies used to buy ATF at a cheaper rate from Bagdogra,” said a source.

In the letter, they also mentioned that some airline companies have withdrawn certain services from Bagdogra over the past few months.

“For example, the number of flights to Mumbai has come down and a flight ticket to Mumbai from Bagdogra for next month has soared to 14,000 rupees. The chief minister had also expressed her disappointment during a recent visit to north Bengal. We have urged her to take up this issue with the Union civil aviation ministry,” said Sanyal.

The BJP leaders, on the other hand, have accused the chief minister of being “biased.”

Shankar Ghosh, the Siliguri MLA, said today that the decision to impose the VAT will impact flight services and the inflow of passengers at Bagdogra.

“At Bagdogra airport, the state has imposed the VAT, which means, the cost of ATF would be higher. Interstingly, the VAT rate has been reduced in Calcutta airport. This shows the state's and the chief minister's biases. Such a decision will affect the growth of north Bengal,” Ghosh, also the party's chief whip in the state Assembly, said.

District TMC leaders have reacted to it. “BJP is trying to do politics with the issue. Because of Mamata Banerjee's consistent initiatives, Bagdogra airport has developed over the years. Whether it is the number of flights or the number of passengers, there has been a steady surge,” said Vedabrata Dutta, the spokesperson of Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamool.