Even as the opposition Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh continues to sling mud at the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government over the alleged bungling of the state finances, the state has made rapid progress in the revenue collections in the current financial year.
Signalling the return of the state financial position back on track in the post-Covid situation, officials told the chief minister at a review meeting on Thursday that the goods and services tax (GST) collections in the state was more than the national average in the first half of the financial year ending September 30.
According to the officials, the average GST collection in the country was 27.8 percent, while in Andhra Pradesh, it was 28.79 percent.
An official release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Jagan has directed the officials to plug the leakages in the tax collection and make it convenient through transparent mechanisms for the taxpayers.
While the revenue target till September 2022 was Rs 27,445 crore, the state had collected Rs 25,928 crore, which means a 94.47% target was achieved.
Reviewing the excise department, the chief minister instructed the officials that Mahila Police should send a daily report regarding the illicit liquor activity in the village, and a system should be in place to trigger it automatically for the officials to conduct raids as soon as possible.
Apart from taking exceptional measures to change the livelihood of villagers who depend on illicit liquor activity, Jagan directed the officials to drastically reduce the number of villages prone to ID activities before the next review meeting.
He further asked them to come up with strict measures against the manufacturing of illegal liquor.
In the registration department review, the chief minister has ordered to set up of a high-level committee to boost the revenue. IAS officers Krishna Babu, Rajat Bhargava, Neerabh Kumar Prasad, and Gulzar should be appointed as members of this committee, said the Chief Minister, and it should submit the report-cum-action plan within two weeks.
“Focus should be increasing the non-registration revenue. What are the many types of registrations people shall avail through the department? Those avenues should be explored by the committee,” said the Chief Minister.
He added that people should be educated through grama sabha and other means regarding the benefits of registrations and why it is important.
“The whole process should be transparent, and people should be encouraged towards the registration without any scope for corruption,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to take help from third-party professional agencies for rational valuation of the property apart from directing them to make appropriate guidelines for the complete registration process in the village and ward secretariats.
“The income from mines and minerals till September last year was Rs.1,174 crores, while the income till September this year was Rs.1400 crores. Though it is a 19 percent increase, it would jump to 43% at the end of the financial year,” said the officials.
The chief minister directed the officials to ensure the mines which had obtained permission were functional and if not, take appropriate steps to solve the problems.
In the transport department, the Chief Minister directed the officials to increase the revenue by creating positive conditions in comparison with other states.
“The solution is not just to increase taxes, but the innovative ideas which would bring people to our state to buy vehicles,” said the Chief Minister.
He also asked the officials to take criminal action against dealers who have taken money from the government but still not have delivered the vehicles.
