Tax haul at Hengbung post delights Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2010: Stating that collection of goods tax at the temporary Taxation Post in Hengbung of Senapati district has added Rs 3 crores to the State exchequer in a short span of 24 days, Works Minister K Ranjit has expressed confidence that the Taxation Department will be able to contribute Rs 100 crores to the Government in a calendar year.

The Minister was in Senapati district today to inspect ongoing construction works for setting up Mini Secretariat complex, and monitor works of the Hot Mix Plant at Karong area during which he covered and assessed activities of the Taxation Post.

Interacting with newspersons during the inspection visit, Ranjit pointed out that Taxation Check Posts were initially established at Sekmai and Kangpokpi sub-division in 2006 but official works of the said post ceased operation since 2009 .

Mini Secretariat Complex, Senapati undergoing construction

As revenue collection from these Posts ceased and significantly decreased the State exchequer, the Chief Minister strongly advocated re-establishment of the Taxation Post at Hengbung on a temporary basis in order to revive the revenue collection mechanism, Ranjit confided while adding that resource-starved Manipur cannot afford to waste revenue sources.

Observing that Hengbung is a suitable spot to enhance revenue collection as most of the goods carriers ply on this National Highway 39 section, the Minister also informed that 13 officials of the Taxation Department are being posted at the Hengbung post to monitor collection of goods taxes.

security personnel in adequate strength are also assigned at the said post to enable the officials carry out their task without any inhibition, he maintained.

Ranjit also disclosed that another amount of Rs 5 lakh had been collected as 'casual tax' within the 24 days period from those traders who could not furnish relevant document (permit) but nevertheless are involved in trade activities along this route.

It is also informed that Saitu assembly constituency MLA Haokholet Kipgen has facilitated allotment of land for opening of the Taxation Post in addition to installation of a transformer at hengbung village as a part of the plan to upgrade the Post's technological facility through computerisation of the office work.

While highlighting that about 95-100 goods carriers operate along the Imphal-Dimapur section of the Highway and entries are made at the Hengbung post, Minister Ranjit expressed confidence that healthy revenue collection from the Taxation Check Post will facilitate the Govt to increase budgetary allocations of other departments as well.

During spot inspection of Senapati district Mini Secretariat Complex, he said similar construction activities are being taken up at all the hill district headquarters and that hectic preparations are on for simultaneous inauguration of all the complex by the Chief Minister in May next.

On completion of the Mini Secretariat complexes offices of the Deputy Commissioners concerned and district level officials would be clustered at the same location with adequate security provision to ensure implementation of development works expeditiously and efficient administration, he affirmed.

With regard to development/maintenance of NH-39 route in Manipur section, he said that after exhaustion of the previous sanction, the Central Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 63 crores for which global tender was floated and relevant work orders already issued to competent companies to execute road development work from maram to Taphou Kuki village.

Ranjit asserted that road development works along the Highway would be closely monitored to ensure strict compliance to standard quality.

Taking into account complaints from the locals about pollution caused by the Hot Mix Plant at Karong, the Minister assured that requisite pollution control machines would be installed at the site to address the problem.