CCTV cameras would be installed in the premises of all the 18 bottling plants situated in the State to check illegal transportation and sale of liquor thereby causing loss of revenue to the State exchequer. This was decided in the review meeting of State Excise and Taxation Department held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.The Chief Minister said that efforts should be made to bridge the GST revenue gap as this was the major area of concern that need to be redressed at the earliest by taking proactive steps for tax collections and checking the loopholes under it. He said that State Government has fixed target of tax collection of Rs. 8000 crore during the current financial year which must be achieved at all costs.Jai Ram Thakur said that the department must study tax collection procedure of best performing States and replicate the same in Himachal Pradesh. He said that investment in areas such as tourism, convention halls, shopping mall etc. should be attracted so as to increase consumption as per recommendations by the Committee appointed by the GST Council to study revenue gap.
The Chief Minister said that officers of the department should be provided training and imparted national/international exposure for capacity building. He said that in order to facilitate the taxpayers Kardata Suvidha Kendras were being opened in every district headquarter out of which four have started functioning and remaining would be made functional by the next month. He said that mobile app for payment of Passengers and Goods Tax (PGT) and Certain Goods Carried by Road (CGCR) would be developed by November, 2019 to facilitate small taxpayers and eliminate any physical interface.Jai Ram Thakur directed the officers of the department to work with renewed zeal to eliminate revenue gap besides enhancing excise revenue by ensuring effective implementation of tax policy for vibrant economy of the State.Principal Secretary, Excise and Taxation Sanjay Kundu assured the Chief Minister that the department would work with missionary zeal to come up to the expectations of the Government. He urged the Chief Minister to change BIO Liquor Policy of the State to earn more revenue under this sector. He also requested that the state should bring proactive policies to attract investment in distilleries, brewing and bottling plants.Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Dr. Ajay Sharma conducted the proceedings of the meeting.Additional Chief Secretary cum Principal Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.