Nitish Kumar assures "extortion-free" environment

Patna, May 24 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today assured an ''extortion-free'' environment for businessmen and said the government had taken several steps for ''reining in'' criminals.

Addressing a function, organised by businessmen of the state to felicitate him on completion of his six-month rule, Mr Kumar said the law and order situation had improved substantially since the installation of the new government.

He said businessmen were now feeling more secured and their confidence level had also improved remarkably.

'' Business community is a strong link between manufacturers and consumers, '' the Chief Minister noted saying if the business flourished, it would lead to better mobilisation of revenue.

Exhorting the businessmen to work honestly and help the state government in raising the tax collection, Mr Kumar said that his government had inherited an empty coffer but it would be filled up in the next five years.

Talking about the Special Auxiliary Police(SAP), recently raised by the state government to control the criminal activities by recruiting retired Army personnel, he said it had invited applause from Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

''Mr Mukherjee had advised all the states to raise similar force as per the model set by the Bihar government, '' he added.

Addressing the function, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi announced that state government would announce its new industrial policy within 15 days.

Mitigating the sufferings of the businessmen in depositing the state taxes, Mr Modi announced that state government had made provisions for payment of tax through Banks.

'' From June 1, all businessmen of the state would be able to pay tax through State Bank of India, '' he added.

Deviating from the old system of collecting the advance tax, he said that businessmen would not be forced to pay tax in advance to show better performance on the tax collection front.

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