Restore old tax circle office at Parwanoo, demand investors

Investors have sought restoration of the tax jurisdiction of the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN) industrial cluster at Parwanoo from the recently changed jurisdiction of Una.

While terming it as being against the spirit of ease of doing business initiative where the state governments are supposed to simplify procedures, the inventors said this new jurisdiction is inconveniencing them by wasting their time and money.

According to a notification issued by the state taxes department in August 2024, the industrial cluster of Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN) was brought under the purview of the central zone having its headquarter at Una instead of the south zone which was being operated from Parwanoo. Similarly, the investors of Kala Amb have been brought under the purview of Parwanoo now.

“Many investors, who are having units in the BBN area and Kala Amb, will have to visit Parwanoo and Una while hiring different tax consultants for their tax-related works. This will put an additional monetary strain on the investors while adding to inconvenience,” rued Rajiv Aggarwal, president pf the BBN Industries Association. He sought the restoration of the earlier tax circle.

Due to the concentration of major industries in the south zone comprising Parwanoo, Kala Amb, Paonta Sahib, Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh, professionals like tax advocates, chartered accountants, consultants, are readily available there but are scare in the Central zone comprising Una.

The investors find it convenient to visit Parwanoo for their tax-related works as it is en route Shimla and the district headquarter of Solan where they frequently travel to execute various industry-related works.

“Since no other office in BBN has a jurisdiction in the other district of Una, it belied logic why investors from this area should travel to another district which was 86 km away. Parwanoo being a merely 26 kms away is not only assessable but a visit to the town saves time as well,” said Aggarwal.

This unanticipated change will also \deter the new investors, rued the Baddi investors.

Pertinently, the successive governments in Himachal Pradesh had provided offices of various industry-related departments like excise, police drug official, etc. to facilitate the investors of BBN which comprises more than 90 per cent of the state’s industry. The area is a separate police district as well as a separate excise district besides being the head office of the state drugs controller given the presence of nearly 350 pharmaceutical firms.

Scarcity of professionals in Una

• Due to the concentration of industries in the south zone comprising Parwanoo, Kala Amb, Paonta Sahib, Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh, professionals like tax advocates, chartered accountants, consultants, are readily available at Parwanoo but are scarce in the central zone comprising Una
• The investors find it convenient to visit Parwanoo for their tax-related work as it is en route to Shimla and the district headquarter of Solan where they frequently travel to execute various industry-related works

Will entail additional monetary burden

Many investors, who are having units in the BBN area and Kala Amb, will have to visit Parwanoo and Una and hire different tax consultants for their tax-related works. This will put additional monetary strain on the investors while at the same time adding to inconvenience.

Rajiv Aggarwal, president, BBN Industries association