SHIMLA: The Himachal Pardesh government would be examining the possibilities to formulate its own Excise Policy to meet the requirements based upon the different geophysical conditions prevalent in the state.

This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while reviewing the functioning, targets and achievements of the Excise and Taxation Department, held here under his chairmanship today. He said that the state had been implementing the Punjab Excise Act of 1914, which had become redundant with a number of amendments carried out from time to time and keeping in view the requirements of the present day. He said that the state government would soon be preparing a draft Excise Policy for the state after taking all related aspects into consideration which would be more practical and based on the ground realities.

Chief Minister said that Excise and Taxation Department had targeted to generate revenue to the tune of Rs. 1,976 crore for the current financial year, 2008-09 out of which Rs. 464.07 crore had already been collected and was 23.5 percent of the achievement while it had generated a revenue of Rs. 1675 crore against the target of Rs. 1,662 crore exceeding the target by one percent. He said that the department had been responsible for levying the taxes on various commodities of use under different schemes, which also ensures the check over the sale prices of the commodities in the open market. He said that majority of commodities of common use by every section of the society had been kept out of tax purview which included fruits, vegetables, newspapers, school stationary, public distribution system items for BPL, Antyodaya Anna Yojna, Annapurna Yojna, agriculture, horticulture produce, handloom produce, fertilizers, milk and milk products etc.

Prof. Dhumal said that the state had introduced various simplified lump-sum schemes for revenue collection and tax payments, which saves the traders from the required codal formalities required for furnishing the returns to the state government. He said that traders, which had adopted such schemes, had been benefitted immensely under such programmes and more such were coming forward to adopt the same. He said that the tax system in the state was much simple as compared to other states and the rate of tax on majority of items was less as well. He said that the state was monitoring the traders, which were evading taxes and directed the authorities to take strict action against such people who were causing loss to the state government.
                               
Chief Minister said that 'Grahak Protsahan Yojna-2008' would be launched in the state from August this year whereby lottery system would be adopted to take out the draw of attractive prizes regularly to be awarded to the customers, which had purchased items against proper bills from the market. He said that the scheme would not only benefit the customer with guaranteed quality product but also ensure adherence of the sale procedure. He said that additionally the one percent incentive scheme to the department on achievement of the budget targets had also been approved which would motivate the department to work more vigorously not only to achieve the target but surpass the same for more incentives.
                          
Dhumal said that there were 57,246 vehicles of different categories registered in the state which too were required to deposit various taxes required under the registration provisions out of which tractors used for agriculture purposes belonging to the owners, government vehicles, all India permit, national permit vehicles and ambulances etc. were exempted. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the government and deposit such dues with the concerned authorities so that such money could be utilized for the developmental and welfare activities of the state. He directed the authorities to check the smuggling of various taxable items on the borders of the state and deal with the errants strictly as per the legal provisions. He said that need had emerged to modernize the multipurpose barriers on the borders of the state to effectively check the goods being transported into and outside the state.

He said that Kalka by-pass was likely to complete in the near future which would facilitate the transporters of traffic jams in the Kalka town. He also directed the authorities to recover the excise and sales tax from the defaulters on priority failing which necessary action taken against them for tax evasions. He said that the flying squads of the department also needed to carry random inspection of the traders at different places all over the state besides rising to any call of tax evasion received by them from any quarter promptly.

Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Excise and Taxation, welcomed the Chief Minister and apprised him of the activities of the department. He said that the department had been responsible for generating maximum revenue for the state exchequer by way of excise and sales taxes etc.

R.D. Dhiman, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, detailed the departmental activities, achievements and targets fixed for the current financial year.