Abhimanyu orders action on SEZ land use change

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 10

Finance and Excise and Taxation Minister Capt Abhimanyu has taken a serious note of the conversion of IT land into SEZ for commercial use against the norms which resulted in substantial revenue loss to the state and directed the Revenue Department to take necessary action in the matter expeditiously.

Capt Abhiamanyu, who was presiding over a meeting of officers of various departments here, also asked the Revenue Department to make asset management cell fully functional on priority basis so that mapping of all assets of the state, both within and outside the state could be completed and the asset register could be prepared by March 31.

He also took a serious note of outstanding electricity bills of Rs 336.14 crore of the Municipal Councils (MCs) and directed to sort out the matter on priority basis in consultation with DISCOMS. Besides, he also directed the Town and Country Planning Department to expedite the process to get refund of Income Tax already paid by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), as HUDA had already adopted the new accounting code. Also, he directed the Irrigation and Water Resources Department to submit the proposal for revision of water rates for the consideration of the Council of Ministers at the earliest.

Capt Abhimanyu said that in 2017-18, the total revenue receipts up to November 30, 2017, were Rs 38,474 crore constituting 56 per cent of the budget estimates of Rs 68,812 crore as against Rs 31,929 crore (51 per cent) during the corresponding period of 2016-17.

While referring to receipt under Taxes on Motor Vehicle, the Finance Minister said that, up to November 30, 2017, receipt under Taxes on Motor Vehicle is Rs 1,723 crore which is 72 per cent of budget estimates of Rs 2400 crore and Rs 856 crore under Road Transport which is 43 per cent of budget estimate of Rs 1970 crore.

He was informed that rationalisation of routes is being done and for implementation of e-Ticketing Machines system, work is in progress and would be completed by June 2018.

Apart from this, the work of adhesive reflector tape on vehicles and establishment of Integrated Check Posts at entry points and installation of computerised electronic weighing machines at eight entry points in collaboration with Public Works (Building and Roads) Department are under consideration.