In response to the allegations leveled by Jammu based MLAs from BJP and Panthers Party, Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, sought to dispell the perception that a major chunk of the taxes collected from Jammu are spent in Kashmir. Terming the impression as 'misplaced' he substantiated his point by varied reasons which were cumulatively responsible as to why more tax is collected in Jammu. Rather also downplayed the discrimination allegations contending J&K is a single territorial unit for all administrative matters and tax realization and spending are done as per the activity and needs of the respective areas.
Replying to the discussion on the demand of grants for the departments under his charge in the House today, the Minister said enhanced tax collections from Jammu compared to Kashmir is due to the fact that the entry to the State is through Jammu only (Lakhanpur) and payment of the entry tax and toll tax takes place there only. He said similarly, the Motor spirit Tax of around Rs 450 crore is being paid by oil companies at Jammu only but used throughout the State. Similarly, he said many national and multi-national companies have their establishments located at Jammu only and their toll tax amounting to around Rs. 450 crore is also being collected at Jammu only. All this, he said, works out to a whooping sum of Rs 1330 crore which actually is the revenue to the State and not to a specific province.
Dwelling at length on the activities of the departments under his charge, he said the commercial taxes department is doing a commendable job which is the biggest tax earning department. Even the 13th Finance Commission, Planning Commission after monitoring revenue realization of all states of the country, praised this department for its good performance and said that it was running on expected lines. The Planning Commission and the Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers too have lauded the State for tax reforms and fiscal discipline, Rather added.
The Minister said the revenue collection of Commercial Taxes Department for the year 2010-11 (ending January, 2011) is of the order of Rs. 2334.14 crore against collections of Rs. 1906.62 crore for the corresponding period of year 2009-10 thus registering a growth rate of 22.40%. The performance is inspite of long spell of disturbances particularly in Kashmir between June and September.
He said the total Excise revenue realized in 2009-10 was Rs. 596.10 crore compared to Rs. 517.23 crore, during 2008-09 showing an increase of 12.25%. During the current financial year, the revenue realized up to ending January 2011 is Rs. 568.44 crore as against Rs. 484.29 crore realized during the same period in the last financial year, showing an increase of 17.38%.
The Finance Minister informed the house that during the year 2010-11, the Department has taken up in hand the implementation of the Project of Computerization of Commercial Taxes Department at a total project cost of Rs. 40.49 crore. The pilot project was launched by the Chief Minister on 23rdDecember 2010 in five districts and the whole project will be rolled out throughout the State by march, 2011. The broader scope of the project is to shift the working of the Department from Manual basis to electronic processing and provision of e-facilities like e-registration, e-filing of returns, e-payments, issuance of statutory forms, etc., to the traders in the State.
He said it is a matter of pride that J&K is the first State whose accounts have been signed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He said soon all the treasuries of State will be computerized and necessary process has already started.
To ensure in fiscal discipline in the State, the Minister said Audit and Inspection Department has been entrusted with the job of conducting special audits and exercising budgetary control over the expenditure to see that the funds are appropriately utilized and spent.
Sharing the concern of the Members about the low CD ratio in the State of various Banks, the Minister said he has told the banks in the last State Level Bankers Committee meeting clearly that the ratio needs to be increased if they have to continue their business in the State.
On Ladakh, the Minister said Kargil Airport is being upgraded and the matter will be taken up with the Civil Aviation Ministry after upgradation takes place for plying regular air services from the Airport. He said transmission line to Leh and Zojila tunnel have already been reflected in the PMRP.
Later, the House passed the demand of grants for amounting to Rs 199830.88 lakhs for meeting the expenditure of the departments under the charge of Finance Minister for the year 2011-12 and supplementary grants amounting to Rs 40305.53 lakh for 2010-11 with voice vote. The departments for which the grants were passed included commercial taxes, excise department, Accounts & Treasuries, Audit & Inspection, Funds Organization and Ladakh Affairs.
Earlier, Harshdev Singh, M Y Tarigami, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, A R Veeri, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Mustaq Ahmad Shah, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Ch. Sukhnandan, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Abdul Haq Khan, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Rafi Ahmad Mir and Ch. Zulfikar Ali had moved their cut motions which they withdrew later.
Replying to the discussion on the demand of grants for the departments under his charge in the House today, the Minister said enhanced tax collections from Jammu compared to Kashmir is due to the fact that the entry to the State is through Jammu only (Lakhanpur) and payment of the entry tax and toll tax takes place there only. He said similarly, the Motor spirit Tax of around Rs 450 crore is being paid by oil companies at Jammu only but used throughout the State. Similarly, he said many national and multi-national companies have their establishments located at Jammu only and their toll tax amounting to around Rs. 450 crore is also being collected at Jammu only. All this, he said, works out to a whooping sum of Rs 1330 crore which actually is the revenue to the State and not to a specific province.
Dwelling at length on the activities of the departments under his charge, he said the commercial taxes department is doing a commendable job which is the biggest tax earning department. Even the 13th Finance Commission, Planning Commission after monitoring revenue realization of all states of the country, praised this department for its good performance and said that it was running on expected lines. The Planning Commission and the Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers too have lauded the State for tax reforms and fiscal discipline, Rather added.
The Minister said the revenue collection of Commercial Taxes Department for the year 2010-11 (ending January, 2011) is of the order of Rs. 2334.14 crore against collections of Rs. 1906.62 crore for the corresponding period of year 2009-10 thus registering a growth rate of 22.40%. The performance is inspite of long spell of disturbances particularly in Kashmir between June and September.
He said the total Excise revenue realized in 2009-10 was Rs. 596.10 crore compared to Rs. 517.23 crore, during 2008-09 showing an increase of 12.25%. During the current financial year, the revenue realized up to ending January 2011 is Rs. 568.44 crore as against Rs. 484.29 crore realized during the same period in the last financial year, showing an increase of 17.38%.
The Finance Minister informed the house that during the year 2010-11, the Department has taken up in hand the implementation of the Project of Computerization of Commercial Taxes Department at a total project cost of Rs. 40.49 crore. The pilot project was launched by the Chief Minister on 23rdDecember 2010 in five districts and the whole project will be rolled out throughout the State by march, 2011. The broader scope of the project is to shift the working of the Department from Manual basis to electronic processing and provision of e-facilities like e-registration, e-filing of returns, e-payments, issuance of statutory forms, etc., to the traders in the State.
He said it is a matter of pride that J&K is the first State whose accounts have been signed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. He said soon all the treasuries of State will be computerized and necessary process has already started.
To ensure in fiscal discipline in the State, the Minister said Audit and Inspection Department has been entrusted with the job of conducting special audits and exercising budgetary control over the expenditure to see that the funds are appropriately utilized and spent.
Sharing the concern of the Members about the low CD ratio in the State of various Banks, the Minister said he has told the banks in the last State Level Bankers Committee meeting clearly that the ratio needs to be increased if they have to continue their business in the State.
On Ladakh, the Minister said Kargil Airport is being upgraded and the matter will be taken up with the Civil Aviation Ministry after upgradation takes place for plying regular air services from the Airport. He said transmission line to Leh and Zojila tunnel have already been reflected in the PMRP.
Later, the House passed the demand of grants for amounting to Rs 199830.88 lakhs for meeting the expenditure of the departments under the charge of Finance Minister for the year 2011-12 and supplementary grants amounting to Rs 40305.53 lakh for 2010-11 with voice vote. The departments for which the grants were passed included commercial taxes, excise department, Accounts & Treasuries, Audit & Inspection, Funds Organization and Ladakh Affairs.
Earlier, Harshdev Singh, M Y Tarigami, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, A R Veeri, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Mustaq Ahmad Shah, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Ch. Sukhnandan, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Abdul Haq Khan, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Rafi Ahmad Mir and Ch. Zulfikar Ali had moved their cut motions which they withdrew later.
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