CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has registered an overall revenue collection of Rs. 3579.72 crore, during the period between April 1 and October 31, which is 13 per cent more than that for the corresponding period in the previous year.

According to an official release, which quoted the State's Excise and Taxation Minister, Sardool Singh, the substantial increase in the revenue collection was possible due to various steps taken by the department. In the month of October alone Rs. 620.23 crore were collected under various provisions. This included collections under Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to Rs. 463.86 crore, Central Sales Tax (CST) to the tune of Rs. 30.06 crore, Excise Duty and License fee of Rs. 125.79 crore and Rs 0.42 crore as entertainment duty. Meanwhile the collections under VAT for the month of September registered a growth of 129.5 per cent.

The Minister further said that Directorate of Enforcement and its mobile wings had succeeded in their efforts to curb evasion and avoidance of taxes. In September, as many as 520 cases were registered under section 51 of Punjab Value Added Tax (PVAT) and a penalty of Rs. 269.96 lakh was imposed on the evaders.

The Minister further said that total revenue of Rs. 263.62 lakh was collected at the Information Collection Centres (ICCs) during September, which included penalty levies of Rs. 161.40 lakh in 498 cases. Campaign against smuggling of liquor and illicit distillation during the last and current months resulted in detection of 1735 cases where authorities seized approximately 14967 litres of illicit liquor, 441414 kg of lahan (molasses), 635 litres of smuggled liquor. Mr Singh disclosed that the representations from trade and industrial associations, regarding difficulties in implementation of PVAT were discussed in the core group on the subject.

Certain issues, which required immediate consideration, were being taken up in the next meeting of cabinet sub-committee.

Instructions have been issued in the department of Excise and Taxation to ensure production of `H' form for claiming refund under VAT. Any relaxation would amount to misuse of facility and evasion of taxes, he warned.

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