Govt to constitute teams to probe VAT irregularities

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

Taking cognisance of the report of the Lokayukta regarding irregularities amounting to Rs 10,600 crore on VAT, the Haryana Government has decided to constitute region-specific assessment teams to look into the matter.

This was stated by Excise and Taxation Minister Capt Abhimanyu in a reply to a question raised by MLA Gian Chand Gupta on the last day of the Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.

He said taking action on the complaint filed by Satbir Singh, the Lokayukta presented his report on May 29, 2014, according to which a huge loss had been caused to the state exchequer in connivance with transporters of Kaithal. He said an interim report dated March 18, 2015, had been received from the Lokayukta and it was being examined.

Capt Abhimanyu said the state exchequer had suffered a huge loss in order to provide benefit to cigarette companies in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and to builders in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat and Panipat. “The department is committed to working with dedication and sincerity. We will recover the loss of every single penny caused to the state exchequer,” he said.

Participating in the discussion, Dr Abhay Singh Yadav, BJP MLA, said there was a commotion among officers due to some news items published in newspapers. On this, Capt Abhimanyu assured the House that action would be taken against guilty officers.

In a reply to a question raised by MLA Vipul Goyal regarding Faridabad city losing its status of industrial city during in the last one decade, Capt Abhimanyu said the state government was soon going to announce its new industrial policy. “We will be creating a right environment under the new policy. Many small and big units have been shut down in the state in 10 years and Faridabad witnessed an investment of Rs 2,511 crore during this period. However, the industrial migration has been comparatively low here than other areas of the state,” he said.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said the process of filling up the vacant posts of promotional quota for lecturers had been started. The requisition for 7,036 posts of lecturers (including the Mewat cadre), 1,145 posts of masters for the Mewat cadre and 129 posts of masters in Urdu (rest of the Haryana cadre) were being forwarded for expeditious recruitment. The Education Minister said this in a reply to a question raised regarding the steps being taken by the state government to meet the shortage of teachers in schools.

He said the nomenclature of classical and vernacular teacher had been changed to trained graduate teacher. The C&V Cadre had been declared diminishing cadre and requisition would be sent only after rationalisation process. “Besides, recommendation of 9,455 JBT teachers has been received from the Haryana School Teachers Selection Board, Panchkula, and is under scientific scrutiny as per High Court orders,” he added.

Kiran dismayed over ignored attention motions

Chandigarh: Accusing Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar of “ignoring” public issues by not admitting her five calling attention motions, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry said on Wednesday that her queries had been deliberately pushed towards the end to make sure she was not allowed any supplementary questions. Kiran told the media that of the 73 questions she had sent over three months, only nine were considered for replies. “I have written to the Speaker about my grouse. He did not bother to mention the fate of my calling attention motions on compensation to farmers, urea shortage, employees’ issues, toll tax on the Tosham road and crimes against women,” she claimed.— TNS

CLP leader Kiran Choudhry at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Wednesday.  Tribune photo: Manoj mahajan

House had maximum sittings this time: CM

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday the present Budget session had witnessed the maximum of 13 sittings in the past 10 years. The Chief Minister was addressing MLAs on the concluding day of the session. While thanking Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar, the CM said the Speaker had smoothly run the proceedings in which Opposition members were given more time for debate as compared to members of the Treasury Benches.  — TNS

CM Manohar Lal Khattar in the Assembly.