State leaking revenue in three check gates

Collection way below target, reveals Patowary

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 27: The three check-gates  — Srirampur, Baxirhat and Digarkhal — under the State Transport department have not been able to generate the amount of revenue targeted by the department in the fincial years 2006-07 to 2015-16, resulting in heavy loss to the State’s exchequer.

The collection of revenue by these three check gates dipped to a new low in the last two terms of the previous Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government due to thriving dalal raj at these check gates. This was revealed on the floor of the House on Wednesday by State Transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in reply to a question raised by AGP MLA Phanibhusan Chowdhury.

Patowary revealed that while the target of revenue collection from Srirampur check gate in the last ten years was Rs 95.34 crore, only Rs 61.23 crore went to the State’s coffers. In the last fincial year 2015-16, the target from Srirampur check gate was Rs 4 crore but only Rs 1.27 crore was filly collected.

The status of revenue collection from Baxirhat check gate is no different. The target of revenue collection from this check gate in the last ten years was Rs 96.55 crore, but only Rs 80.53 crore was collected. In the 2015-16 fiscal, the target was Rs 4 crore but only Rs 2.60 crore was collected, said the minister quoting records. 

From the Digarkhal check gate in south Assam, the target of revenue collection in the last ten years was Rs 25.81 crore, but Rs 21.23 crore was collected. In 2015-16, the target was Rs 3 crore but only Rs 1.20 crore was collected.

Sources said the lower collection of revenue through these check gates is a matter of grave concern as the State government has been losing out on a huge amount of revenue.

Now, it is to be seen how the present BJP-led government at Dispur can make these check gates profitable and earn the amount of revenue as per its target.