Present excise policy to continue: Gaur

Bhopal, Dec 1 (UNI) Encouraged by the better results, the Madhya Pradesh Government may continue with the present excise policy even in 2007-08.

This was indicated by state Commercial Tax and Industries Minister Babulal Gaur to UNI here today while releasing details of revenue earned during the first six months of the current fiscal year.

The present policy provides for shop-wise allocation of contracts doing away with the earlier policy of auctioning liquor vends to clusters, giving way to malpractice.

Mr Gaur said it has also been decided not to auction a shop if its contractor pays 20 per cent more amount compared to last year.

The Commercial Tax Minister said revenue from commercial tax, excise and land registration was expected to cross the target -- Rs 934.88 crore from commercial tax, Rs 1,463.50 crore excise policy and Rs 1,075 crore from land registration -- set for this year.

A 19.4 per cent increase in revenue from commercial tax, excise and land registration has been recorded during the first six months of the current fiscal as compared to corresponding period last year, while revenue from excise increased by 11.24 per cent in the first six months as against same period previous year.

A revenue of Rs 7,644.06 crore -- Rs 5,249.01 crore from commercial tax, Rs 1,385.68 crore from excise and Rs 1,009.37 crore from land registration -- was earned from the three heads in 2005-06.

In the first six months of this year, a revenue of Rs 3,832.92 crore -- Rs 2,514.10 crore from commercial tax, Rs 778.15 crore from excise and Rs 540.67 crore from land registration -- had been earned.

Mr Gaur pointed out that the revenue increase could be appreciated from the viewpoint that revenue in the first few months had slumped due to implementation the Value Added System (VAT) in April.

Similarly, a revenue of Rs 540.67 crore had been earned from registration and stamps by September, an increase of Rs 25.06 crore from the corresponding period previous fiscal.

The Commercial Tax Minister said a motivational scheme has been launched to modernise cinema houses in a bid to promote entertainment industry. Under this scheme, a provision has been made for exempting entertainment tax on investment of more than Rs five lakh.

He said concession in stamp duty on registry in name of women has led to an increase number of registry in their name.

Mr Gaur added that farmers had been provided concession in stamp duty to farmers on Kisan Credit Cards, while industrialists had been provided concessions in as a part of protection policy. The computerisation of department was also in progress.

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