By: ML Verma
Shimla (Apr 8): Debt-ridden Himachal Pradesh government lost Rs 1,520.93 crore in 1,198 cases on account of under-assessment of levy during the year 2009-10, the report of comptroller and Audit General of India (CAG-accounts) released here today stated.
The CAG reports tabled in the House by Chief Minister Prem Kumar says that the government’s total receipts during FY 2009-10 were Rs 10,346.36 crore. The revenue raised by the state during the year was Rs 4,356.18 crore comprising tax revenue and Rs 1783.66 crore on account of non tax revenue. The report stated that the state received Rs 861.63 crore as state share form union taxes and Rs 5,126 crore as grant–in-aids form the government of India.
The report further mentions that test check of records of sales tax, state excise, taxes on vehicles, goods and passengers, forest receipts and other tax and non taxes receipts conducted during the FY 2009-10 revealed under-assessment of revenue aggregating Rs 1520.93 crore in 1,198 cases. During the course of the year 2009-10 the concerned department accepted under-assessment, etc of Rs 63.68 crore in 298 cases.
The report highlights that review of receipts from power sector projects revealed that Rs 707.69 crore did not realized during 2007-08 and 2009-10 on account of upfront premium as receipts of department and irregularity deposited in the reserve fund. Non-claiming of upfront premium or charges on the six hydro-electric projects allotted to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVNL) and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPPC) deprived the state exchequer of revenue of Rs 196.53 crore during 2007-08.
Return on equity amounting to Rs 170.42 crore for the years 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2009-09 due from five hydropower project owned by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) was not claimed by the government. Non-invoking of provisions of power policy in supplementary implementation agreements (IAs) executed with independent power producers (IPPs) in respect of two hydro electric projects resulted in loss of revenue Rs 114 crore.
Six districts lost Rs 27.54 crore due to acceptance of defective or incomplete statutory forms by the assessing authorities and allowing exemption or confessional rate of tax in case of 34 dealers. Allowing the deduction of Rs 15.34 crore from the gross turnover of 19 contractors by the assessing authorities on account of material supplied by the departments to them for the execution of departmental works resulted in under-assessment of tax or Rs 2.54 crore in seven districts.
