Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today urged the people of Punjab to judge last 7 years performance of SAD-BJP government before taking any political decision in coming Lok Sabha polls since country was in dire need of a strong decisive leader like Mr. Narendra Modi instead of pisive Congress.Announcing that the IT software giant Infosys is going to kick off construction of its IT Center on 50 acres of land from February 20th, the Deputy CM informed that this center would provide more than 25000 jobs to our youth while the one of the biggest hotel and food processing company ITC is also landing in the state with huge investments so time has come to differentiate between development, performance and time bound fulfillment of promises by SAD-BJP before casting votes in Lok Sabha polls. Badal was here to preside over a function organized by Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industries to its extend gratitude for being taken revolutionary decisions and bringing reforms in VAT regime as well as Excise and Taxation Department, where he announced that Mandi Gobindgarh will not have to suffer from power cuts in this season as the Punjab has become power surplus state. He said it has also been decided to ban access of excise inspectors in 71 B and C category towns, which will be started from February 13. He said after this day no inspector can go to any trader, factory and other industrial or commercial sites without getting written permissions of Excise and Taxation Commissioner.
Announcing self-assessment for the traders, Badal said now the traders and shopkeepers will not have to keep the record books as the government has implemented the policy under which the traders having 25 lakh annual turnover will have to pay Rs. 5000 once.
He said the traders falling between Rs. 25 lakh to 50 lakh and Rs. 50 lakh to 75 lakh will have to pay Rs. 10000 and 15000 respectively while the traders and shopkeepers with the annual sale up to Rs. 1 crore to be deposited Rs. 20000. He said that in lieu of this lump-sum tax amount the Government will provide them to every year cashless treatment up to Rs. 50000, Rs. 2 lakh life and accidental insurance and Rs. 5 lakh insurance in case of damage of property due to fire breakout. Reiterating his commitment to provide all public services online to people by making all departments paperless, Mr. Badal said the Excise and Taxation Department has become complete ‘Paperless’ department and all the departments of Punjab will get the same status within two years. He said he was taking this as a mission and this would be achieved fixed time frame of two years.Focusing on expansion and setting up of new industrial units, Mr. Badal Punjab has provided big relief to the Iron and Steel Industry of Mandi Gobindgarh by reducing the VAT on Steel Iron from 4.95 to 2.75, on scrap 4.95 to 1 percent after having detailed discussion with the industrialists and traders. Mr. Badal also announced the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme to redress the long pending cases of industrial units.
He said under this scheme the pendency of cases would be eliminated and industrialists will have to pay just 1.5 precent interests on their pending taxes. The Scheme will be remain operational till March 31.Meanwhile answering media queries Mr. Badal described the Hoshiarpur incident, where Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare was taking a meeting of doctors and there was a reportedly a causality in emergency ‘very unfortunate’ and said Punjab government will conduct an enquiry in this regard. On VAT refund there was a pendency of Rs. 450 crore till January 1st, out of which Rs. 125 crore has been paid while the remaining amounts will also be disbursed soon.Earlier President of Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mr. Bharat Bhushan Jindal, Mr. Amarjit Goyal, former Chairman chamber of steel furnace association of India, Mr. Vinod Vashisht, President all India Steel Reroller Association, Iron Scrap Traders Association’s general secretary Mr. Bhagwan Dass and Induction Furnace Industry’s Association President Mr. Mahinder Gupta honoured Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for his cooperation and vision for Mandi Gobindgarh industry besides initiatives taken by him.Prominent amongst present on the occasion Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Sarup Chand Singla, CPS, Mr. Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary SAD, Mr. Jagdeep Singh Cheema, District President SAD, Mr. Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, Former MLA, Mr. Didar Singh Bhatti, Ex MLA and Dr. Harbans Lal former Minister.