Arunachal plans to mobilise additional resources

Itanagar, May 11 (UNI) The Arunachal Pradesh government is planning to mobilise additional resources this fiscal to repeat last year's success story through collection of additional tax revenue in the state.

The state tax and excise department had earned highest ever revenue of Rs 63 crore last year against a target of Rs 55 crore.

State Finance, Tax and Excise minister Kalikho Pul informed that the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industry(ACCI) had assured the state government to help in collection of tax.

While welcoming the ACCI's assurance, the Finance minister said that the target set by the government could be possible only with the whole-hearted cooperation of all sections of the society, especially the traders.

Entry taxes aims at preventing tax evasion, check outside businessmen, to promote unemployed youths and protect the genuine local traders to earn in the process for the state coffer, the minister told a delegation of the ACCI led by its general secretary Tarak Nachung Tariang and chief advisor B K Ghosh Dastidar, which called on him at his office chamber yesterday.

Welcoming the finance minister's proposal during the budget session to set up single check gate with computer facility to be manned by staff of agriculture marketing unit, forest, mining and tax and excise departments at all entry points, ACCI pleaded the minister to expedite the proposal to prevent tax evasion as well as improve tax collection.

Mr Pul also disclosed various other measures including constitution of coordination committee comprising departmental officials, traders and ACCI representatives to sort-out various tax related problems and suggest required reforms, activate the departmental mobile checking units to maintain constant vigil, regular monitoring and making TIN (Trade Index Number) compulsory for traders with turnout above Rupees five lakh, develop inter-state road connectivity.

The two-hour long discussion covered wide range of topics including tax evasion by unscrupulous businessmen who procure consumer good through kachha receipts, availability of fake branded products causing revenue loss and cheating consumers, higher taxes on few items in comparison to other states and double taxation, sources informed.

While seeking the support of the Chamber, the minister remarked that the traders have equal responsibility towards the economic growth of the state.

The vigilance wing of the ACCI would be strengthened to check tax evasion, ministry sources added.

UNI