Tuki stresses on plugging revenue pilferage

Our Correspondent

Itagar, January 24: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister bam Tuki on Friday convened a high level review meeting with chief secretary, commissioners and secretaries of revenue generating departments on various aspects of revenue leakage and to sort out modalities to curb the mece.

Tuki during the meeting reiterated the firm intention of the government to contain revenue pilferage, a communiqué from the CMO informed.

“Despite man and machinery in place, revenue leakage is rampant, which is hampering the development process of the state,” Tuki observed.

He viewed that the existing monitoring machinery responsible for checking the pilferage need to be strengthened by creating layers of monitoring wings.

After minutely hearing to the presentations of departments over the revenue collections till date, a visibly displeased CM exhorted the departments to tighten their belts.

He called for strengthening the entry check gates manned by Tax & Excise, Geology and Mining, Environment and Forest and Police and ensure that no vehicle loaded with goods are allowed to pass without proof of tax paid.

Tuki was of the view that collective and sincere efforts are needed from the concerned departments in checking leakages.

“The forest guards or the police may be authorized to check the documents related to tax or royalty that come under the departments of Tax and Excise and Geology and Mining in addition to their normal duties by delegating powers to them. This way, no extra manpower is required to check the pilferage,” he said.

While periodical transfer of officials and staff posted at the check gates (within a span of 6 months) was in principally approved, Tuki ordered for increasing the frequency of surprise checking of the entry–exit gates and other areas of revenue generation by a mobile squad.

He also suggested for delegating powers to the mobile squad to take on–spot decision of arrest, suspension or any other action against the persons found involved in the loot of public money.

The chief minister appealed people to help the government in its endeavour by reporting any act leading to revenue pilferage to the authorities and announced that they will be suitably rewarded for it.

He further directed constitution of a high level committee headed by Development Commissioner Fince as Chairman with Secretary Fince as Member Secretary and the Commissioners and Secretaries of all revenue generating departments and Planning Secretary as members to chalk out a comprehensive plan to contain the burgeoning issue.

The Committee shall study the reasons behind the leakages, zero down to officers and officials involved in the pilferage and suggest for stern actions against them. Major anomalies will be referred to SIC/SIT besides initiating departmental enquiries.

The committee shall engage teams to inspect business points, construction sites, mineral quarries, check gates and such other points to ensure genuine payment of government revenue. This team shall also make surprise checks and provide reports to the Government on monthly basis.  Tuki also directed to constitute district level committees to ensure check of revenue leakages in the districts. All treasury officers shall be directed to keep an account of tax deduction from the works departments against all projects, the communiqué added.

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