Sopte alleges Rs 128 cr taxes not collected from these traders
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The non-payment of VAT by some fly-by-night mineral ore traders resulting in a yawning gap in collection of such a tax echoed in the portal of the House yesterday.
Towards the fag end of the debate, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was forced to assure the House about the government's stringent steps to mop up VAT from such errant traders.
Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte, was quick to point out to the sizeable difference in VAT mopped up by the state government.
"As per the 2008-09 figures, the total VAT collected amounts to Rs 19 crore, 14 lakhs. Total sale amounts to Rs 11,122 crores while the export value is pegged at Rs 7918 crores. he stated
The difference is to the tune of Rs 3,204 crores. 4% VAT on this figure works out to Rs 128 crores and the difference in collection is to the tune of Rs 109 crores. When will the government collect this amount?" questioned Sopte.
Intervening in Soptes' support, Parrikar said many traders have not paid tax inspite of conducting business. He wanted the government to recover taxes from all such traders liable to pay tax on the ore sold.
The issue pertaining to Deshprabhu's mining operations in Pernem taluka also figured in the House when Sopte pointed out how 62 grade ore was being mined from this area by the former MLA despite the royalty challan examined on one occasion had expired.
In his reply, Chief Minister informed the House that ore traders file quarterly returns. " No quantitaive details of VAT can be obtained at the time of assessment. However, we are trying to ascertain the same," stated Kamat.
He said a reconciliation is on and the state government has alerted the Department of Mines on getting to the bottom of the whereabouts of such ore traded by them.
" If not, we will recover an amount worth 10 times of the royalty and will prosecute them." he added.
We will collect taxes from each and every trader involved in trading of mineral ore,"Kamat remarked while assuring the Pernem MLA of 'looking into' the matter pertaining to mining by former Pernem MLA Jeetendra Deshprabhu.
