The Bodhgaya nagar panchayat board has approved a proposal to collect $1 and Rs 10 from foreign and Indian tourists and pilgrims, respectively, as suvidha shulka (facility tax).

The civic body would use the amount collected to improve civic amenities in the heritage temple town.

In a meeting on Monday, the board approved the civic body's proposal. The board has recommended the civic body to invite suggestions on the plan from the people. Accordingly, the Bodhgaya nagar panchayat has issued a notice to invite suggestions from Bodhgaya residents by March 15.

Executive officer of the civic body Sanjay Kumar Lal said: 'The Bodhgaya nagar panchayat is entitled to impose tax on tourists under Section 127 (J) of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007. We aim to improve civic amenities such as roads, cleanliness and lighting arrangements for the tourists visiting the heritage township with the revenue collected.'

The civic body is yet to work out the details of collecting the tax but according to sources, counters can be set up near the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) office, the nagar panchayat office and another tourist spot in the town. Co-operation of the district magistrate is, however, required to set up a counter at the BTMC office because he is the chairperson.

The idea behind imposing the suvidha shulka is different from the service fee the Lodging House Committee imposed on vehicle owners ferrying pilgrims to Gaya for pinddaan. Bodhgaya nagar panchayat chairperson Priti Singh said: 'The Lodging House Committee that collects the service fee is not a civic body. The Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, empowers a civic body to impose tourist and pilgrim tax.'

She added: 'On payment of the tax, we will provide the tourists a pass in the form of a three-fold brochure that would have detailed information on Bodhgaya. The pass would be valid for 10 days and would allow us maintain records of tourists visiting the town.'

The civic body would collect records on visa and passport validity of foreign tourists/pilgrims and keep count of tourists visiting Bodhgaya at a certain time of the year.

Singh said: 'Monks and nuns would be exempted from paying the tax but they would still have to submit their documents. Every visit of tourists or pilgrims to the World Heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara (where entry is free) will also be marked on the pass.'

Defending the tax proposal, she said the Bodhgaya nagar panchayat is different from other nagar panchayats. 'Bodhgaya is a heritage city. We spend around Rs 8.5 lakh on lighting and cleanliness arrangements every month. So, it has become necessary to raise funds through our internal resources,' Singh added.