Punjab Govt to open 'Bikri Kar Seva Centres' to file returns, VAT

Chandigarh, Apr 30 (UNI) The Punjab government will open 'Bikri Kar Seva Centres' for filing of returns, VAT 35 and VAT 36 forms on the web, enabling dealers and transporters to file data before actual arrival of goods.

State Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh said this at the Chief Secretaries Summit of PHD Chamber in Delhi.

He said Punjab has connected all its excise and taxation offices for online working. The state has approved e-procurement policy and framework, he added.

Mr Singh said the state government was also computerising land records (on BOOT basis), driving licenses and registration of vehicles. He also disclosed 2,100 common service centres (one in six villages) for providing various government services and other business services to the citizens is under implementation.

Responding to PHD Chamber President Sanjay Bhatia's specific suggestion for ensuring adequate power availability for accelerating economic growth, the Chief Secretary revealed that the private sector investment in power generation would be facilitated by the new Punjab government. Thermal plants of 1200 MW each (2 x 600 MW) at Nabha and Talwandi Sabo would be set up in the state, he added.

Further, the state electricity board was exploring possibility of setting up a 1,200 MW coal pit head thermal plant at Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh).

This would be a joint venture of South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd.(SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited and the state electricity board at Kusamunda Coal mines.

Hydro Power Projects for generating 317 MW of power are under implementation and 7 developers have signed MoU with Punjab Energy Development Agency for renewable energy development projects for which power purchase agreement are under process, the Chief Secretary added.

UNI