patna though the proposed ban of liquor albeit partial has been hailed by women in bihar the cabinets decision to compensate the revenue loss by increasing vat up to 135 on selected commodities has hugely upset them now draping a good sari worth rs 2000 or more and buying cloth priced at rs 500 metre or above is going to be a costly affair same is the case with cosmetics on which vat has been increased from 5 to 135 its going to affect common people more we have to maintain a certain living standard i dont think we get a partywear sari in less than rs 2000 also there was no need to impose vat on mosquito repellent sumitra prasad 50 said while homemakers were worried about edibles and saris young girls were angry to know about 135 vat on cosmetics anubha ashok 21yearold sales and advertising grad said cosmetic items are very important for girls but the vat hike will put extra burden on our pocket money i am not against vat on cosmetics but 135 is too much vat on sweetmeat packaged flour semolina besan namkeen chips dalmot bhujiya samosa and salted peanuts has also been upped to 135 usha jha of boring road said commodities related to kitchen should have been spared already there is inflation and a person who manages the kitchen faces lots of trouble this will put extra burden on us vimal kumar a garage owner on boring road feared that vat on auto parts would lead to the increase in public transport fare because the maintenance cost of vehicles would increase realtor gyan mani pointed out if vat on sand increases real estate prices would naturally go up while briefing reporters principal secretary cabinet secretariat brajesh mehrotra claimed on tuesday vat was being increased on luxury items used by vips and bihar chamber of commerce and industries president o p sah agreed with him since the state government is banning spiced and country liquor it had to look for options to increase its revenue the decision taken by the cabinet is a compulsion we should look at the positive side of this decision because anyone belonging to middle class or lowincome group is not going to be affected sah told toi on wednesday and added however that fabric should have been exempted from vat