The government is preparing to install a network of hi-tech cameras along the entry points to the State, to keep a close tab on freight traffic across the border and prevent tax evasion.
Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac said the smart cameras, along with monitoring systems, would replace the commercial tax checkposts and obviate the need for physical examination of freight in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
Equipped to capture high resolution pictures of vehicles and their number plates, the cameras would be installed at all borders, including side roads used by smugglers.
The online system would enable officials to detect goods vehicles without the mandatory GST invoice and issue an alert to squads. The pilot scheme would be implemented at Walayar. More squads would be pressed into service once the camera network was in place.
Dr. Isaac said tax evasion was expected to come down in the GST regime. “We hope to achieve the targettted 20% increase in tax revenue next year.”
The Minister, who later left for Delhi to attend a meeting of the GST Council, said the tax rate on gold jewellery and the goods to be exempted from GST were yet to be finalised after several rounds of discussions.
He said the government would introduce legislation in the Assembly enabling farmers to avail themselves of the rubber production incentive scheme.
The scheme was introduced in the State Budget 2015 by the then Finance Minister K.M. Mani with an outlay of ₹300 crore.
The allocation was enhanced to ₹500 crore in the 2016 budget. When the LDF came to power, Dr. Isaac retained the scheme earmarking ₹500 crore.
