Finance Minister K.M. Mani told the Assembly on Thursday that the tax and non-tax fiscal performance of the government had improved during the past five months compared to the corresponding period last year.
Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Agriculture Income Tax and Sales Tax and Housing, the Minister said that revenues from value added tax (VAT) had jumped by 21 per cent to reach Rs. 3,920 crore. Collection from check posts had increased by eight per cent during the five months compared to the corresponding period last year.
Mr. Mani said that the integrated check post had started functioning at Amaravila. Integrated checkposts would be started at Walayar and Muthanga upon completion of land acquisition. As many as 3,362 street surveys and VAT registration drives had been undertaken to prevent tax evasion. Sales of lottery from other States in Kerala had practically ended with the CBI investigation into their operations.
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He said that the two assistant commissioners had been suspended in connection with the raid on the Nano Excel office in Thrissur and compounding of the offences by collecting a penalty. The government was willing to order a vigilance enquiry into the allegation that Rs. 1.5 crore was taken as bribe in the case.
The Minister said that an arrangement had been worked out with HUDCO during his recent trip to Delhi on the default of loan of Rs. 849 crore availed from HUDCO by the State Housing Board. HUDCO had agreed to reschedule the loan if Rs. 280 crore including interest was paid. Of this, Rs. 10 crore had already been paid as interest. The default had landed the Board in a crisis.
He said that the Board would take up rental housing schemes at Kuttanallur, Thrissur and Kozhikode and build quarters for government employees in Ksaragod and Devikulam. Projects for overseas Keralites would be taken up in Thrissur and Kozhikode districts. An environment-friendly housing scheme would be taken up in Thiruvananthapuram.
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After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demands for grants amounting to Rs. 342.64 crore.