Tax recovery shall be the main performance indicator: Rather

Budget Cabinet appreciates CT Deptt for its performance

            SRINAGAR, JULY 07: Saying that state’s economy largely depends on the performance of commercial taxes department,(C.T) the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather today called for effective   administration of Excise and Taxation laws which, he said is imperative for multiplication of tax revenue.

            Reviewing the performance of Commercial Taxes Department, Kashmir Division at a marathon 6 hour long high level meeting of the officers of commercial taxes department at Banquet Hall, Srinagar today, Mr. Rather urged for conducting regular administrative inspections with main thrust on recovery from the tax defaulters. He also called for maintaining the records properly adding that punctually of staff should be ensured to redress the grievance of traders. He also directed for rigorously pursuing court cases so that recoveries are effected from the tax defaulters

             “The status of court stay orders should be regularly monitored to get these vacated without delay’’ Mr. Rather said, adding that recovery of tax should be one of the main performances indicators of the officers of the department.

            Mr. Rather also stressed the need for strict discipline in rank and file of the C T department adding that good behaviour with dealers was imperative to ensure their good will.

            The Minister, while appreciating the C.T department for its good performance during the last fiscal, urged for bringing further improvements in the functioning of the field staff by plugging all the loop holes in the system.

            The Budget cabinet has highly appreciated the performance of the commercial taxes department and a letter of appreciation has been sent to the officers and officials of the department by the government, Mr. Rather said, adding that there is vast scope for further improvements in its overall functioning. He asked the officers and field agencies of the department to work with much more responsibility as it was not possible to achieve the desired targets and objectives without their active cooperation and firm commitment. He said that from day one of the financial year, the endeavour should be to achieve 100% assigned targets.

            While reviewing the performance of the C.T. department during the last fiscal, it was informed that the year 2011-12 was a year of extra-ordinary and unprecedented growth in revenue realization. During the last fiscal, the department, by surpassing the revised targets, has collected a revenue of Rs. 1035.61 crore over the collection of the preceding year (2011-12), registering a growth of 50.52%. The tax collection during the previous year (2010-11) was of the order of Rs. 688.11 crore only.

            The Commissioner Excise and Taxation department informed the meeting that 1971 inspections were conducted by the CTOs of Kashmir division during the last financial year, in which, 268 cases of violation of the provision of the VAT Act have been detected. He said that a penalty of Rs. 36.50 lakh has been imposed on violators, out of which, Rs. 25-53 lakh has already been recovered. The balance demand of penalty amounting to Rs. 8.40 lakh is being counted.  

            The Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Commissioner, Commercial Taxes Department, Mr. Kifayat Rizvi, Special Secretary, Finance, Mr. Omkar Nath, Additional Commissioner, C.T., Mr. Rafiq Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner CT (HQ), Mr. Showkat Aijaz and the CTOs of the Kashmir division attended the meeting.

Sagar tours old city, announces Rs. 20 lakh for developmental works

            SRINAGAR, JULY 07 – Asking the officers to speed up the pace of developmental works initiated by the government, the Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that care should be taken to ensure that these are completed within the prescribed time so that people of the city get benefitted.

            The Minister was interacting with scores of deputations during his visit to the old city Srinagar; the areas visited include Baeb-demb, Khayam, Khanyar, Kalishpora, Zainakadal, Nowhatta, etc. He was accompanied by Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. G. Q. Qasba, Additional District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr. M. A. Qadri, Chief Engineer, R&B, Mr. Mushtaq Lone, Superintending Engineer, PHE, LAWDA and other senior officers.

            Directing the officers to ensure speedy developmental work on the Bari-Nambal project, the Minister said that the lagoon forms one of the central attractions of the city and we have to ensure that proper beautification and renovation of it is ensured on war footing basis. He also inspected the pace of work on the proposed public library block being constructed at Khanyar and directed the officers of the concerned department to see to it that it is completed within the prescribed time frame so that the youth of the area get benefitted from it.

            Mr. Sagar also inspected the pace of renovation work on the old Zainakadal bridge and directed the concerned officers to ensure that it is completed within the shortest possible time, so that the population and the shopkeepers within its catchment area do not face any inconvenience.

            Responding to the demands of the people at Roshanghar Mohalla, Nowhatta, the Minister directed the concerned authorities to settle the compensation cases if any of the people whose properties have been acquired. He asked the officers to ensure that they are provided the requisite  within the shortest possible time so that they can effectively rehabilitate themselves.

            Mr. Sagar also inspected the pace of work on the prestigious KZP road project and directed the officers to ensure that the bottlenecks if any are removed for its smooth implementation. He said that it will go a long way in ensuring better transport and traffic regulation of the old city Srinagar and its catchment areas.

            The Minister also announced an amount of Rs. 20 lakh out of his Constituency Development Fund for the development of lanes and drains of the area and directed the officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to ensure that the work is completed as early as possible.

irector Education visits schools

Ordered suspension of 13 absentees

            SRINAGAR, JULY 07: Director School Education, Kashmir Mr. Mohammad Shafi Rather today paid a surprise check to various Schools in Srinagar District. While checking of attendance of teachers and employees, 13 officials were found absent from duty.

            Mr. Rather directed Chief Education Officer, Srinagar  accompanying him, to place the absentees under suspension.

No. PR/K/2012/1736/Sgr

30 volunteers donated blood at Lawaypora

             SRINAGAR, JULY 07: A blood donations camp was today held at Lawaypora Srinagar in which 30 Volunteers donated their blood.

            The camp was organized by Directorate of Health services Kashmir. A good number of local people and volunteers organizations participated  in the camp.

            The Director Health Service in his address stressed for organisation of such camps in far off and remote areas of the state so that the benefit of these camps percolates down to people living in distressed conditions.. He asked concerned officers to initiate a vigorous campaign   about the significance of blood donation and said that it was a  good beginning that people come forward for donating blood voluntarily.

            Later the Director visited Noorbagh Hospital and addressed the function held in connection with celebration of world population fortnight.