Dimapur, August 6 (MExN): State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today expressed his disapproval over the low generation of revenue in Dimapur by the taxation department, and said that it does not speak well of the performance of the officers under Dimapur Zone of the Taxes Department.
Speaking after the inauguration of the new Office Building of Zonal Assistant Commissioner of Taxes, Dimapur at Lingrijan, Rio said that the total revenue collection in the state during 2006-07 was 203.37 crore compared to Rs 202.33 crores during 2005-06, with an increase of just Rs 1,04 crores over the previous year. He said that although the tax revenue increased by Rs 13.40 crores, ‘the overall growth has been dismal due to poor performance of non-tax revenue.
In this regard, Rio said that he has noted that in 2006-07, the revenue collection of Kohima Zone increase by Rs 5 crores, whereas the increase was only Rs 1.71 crore for Dimapur. “Its hard that the scope for growth is less in Dimapur than in Kohima, said Rio and added, “It also does not speak well of the performance of the officers under Dimapur zone.”
In this connection Rio said that the taxes department has room to improve.
The Chief Minister cautioned that the Central Government may not always be generous with funds, and added that a time may come when the state government may have to stand on its own. “I am sure the Department has much more potential. As we can all see now, our revenue receipts are yet to reach the levels, where they can substantially contribute to our economic growth,” he added.
Rio also said that the management of the state’s finances and the limited resources at our disposal is one area that the people do not understand easily and appreciate. “Most of fail to realize healthy finances benefit everyone, especially in a state like ours, where industrial and commercial activities have very little presence, and the government is the biggest employer,” said Rio.
Rio also pointed out that the estimated annual growth if state’s revenue as stipulated by the Twelfth Finance Commission (TFC) at 12.10 percent remains to be seen, since even a huge 20 percent rate of growth over the Department’s revenue collection of Rs 98.13 crores for 2006-07 would translate into Rs 19.62 crores only.“It is imperative for us to widen our base, and reduce leakage through active initiative,” said Rio.
Rio further said that the tax generation in the state is hardly enough to meet the salary expenses of the government for two months. In this regard, the Chief Minister said that there is room for the department to improve its performance, and collect more revenue to fund developmental activities, and bail out the state overdependence on central grants.
On this matter, Rio said that the Government will be watching more closely the performance of the officers so that important postings go only to those having proven efficiency.
The new, 24 roomed office of Taxes Zonal Assistant Commissioner of Taxes, Dimapur, are housed at total plinth area of 11,000 sq feet. The guard room cum canteen is housed near the main office building. The building which was started at 2004, took 30 months to complete at an estimated of Rs 121.43 lakhs. The project was taken under negotiated loan (HUDCO) during 2003-04; the state government provided the whole estimated amount in the same year i.e. 2003-04, HUDCO also sanctioned the said amount in March 2004.
