DOUBLE DOSE | AC delivers on tax relief, environmental cleanup

Jammu, Dec 27: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha approved a proposal of the Finance Department for granting amnesty for the settlement of Tax arrears about the pre-GST regime.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that this step was going to provide relief to the tax payers in the form of waiver of interest and penalty besides recovery of the blocked revenue to the government.

Earlier all dealers could not take benefit of the erstwhile amnesty scheme issued vide Government Order No 39-FD of 2018 dated February 5, 2018, due to various reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic.

As such, a large number of representations were received from the trade and industry sector for granting a one-time opportunity to the dealers for settlement of the outstanding arrears under the pre-GST tax legislation.

The amnesty scheme provides relief to dealers of 100 percent waiver of penalty and interest under J&K General Sales Tax Act, 1962, and Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, for assessment and re-assessment up to 2017-18 (July 7, 2017, for all and August 31, 2017, for liquor dealers); 100 percent waiver of penalty and interest under J&K Value Added Tax Act, 2005, and Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, for assessments up to 2017-18 (July 7, 2017); waiver of interest and penalty in the previous two categories subject to 100 percent payment of principal tax in the manner and within the prescribed time as per the scheme to be notified by the government; and settlement of demands for industrial units under repealed J&K Value Added Tax Act, 2005 (up to 2017-18) (upto July 7, 2017), J&K General Sales Tax Act, 1962 (up to July 7, 2017 and August 31, 2017, for liquor-dealing units), and Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, in respect of assessed and re-assessed demands including yet to be assessed cases with certain conditions to be notified in the scheme.

This decision on the part of the government would result in minimising of tax dispute cases and winding up pre-GST cases.

The time limit for receiving the applications for this amnesty would not be more than six months from the date an order is issued in this regard.

The Administrative Council (AC) also approved the project regarding the construction of Nallahs from Peerkho Main up to Dhounthly on the right bank of River Tawi Package-II at an estimated cost of Rs 26.87 crore to be funded under Capex Budget.

The project was prepared in compliance with instructions given by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the abatement of pollution in River Tawi by diversion of untreated wastewater from storm water drains falling into it and treatment of the same before discharge into the river.

This would ensure proper drainage and sewerage network of the area which would directly benefit the households and local inhabitants besides ensuring compliance with the directions of NGT and CPCB regarding abatement of pollution in River Tawi here.

LAND TRANSFERS, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
ALSO ACCORDED APPROVAL

Meanwhile, the AC also accorded approval to different developmental activities here including the construction of a road in district Reasi, the establishment of an industrial estate at Akhnoor besides transferring land for different public purposes.

The AC approved the construction of a 13.10 km road from Sujandhar to Ratnote via Gabbar Sarote in district Reasi at an estimated cost of Rs 27.58 crore under RIDF XXIX funded through NABARD loan assistance and J&K government as per 90:10 ratio.

This road would benefit about 10,000 people of villages Sujandhar, Samak, Chardel, Doda, Tolan Laid, Lower Gabbar, Bagdhar, Jhatakote, Batalade, Ratnote and adjoining habitations in Reasi district who are suffering in the absence of any terrestrial connectivity.

The AC also approved the transfer of land for public purposes to the departments for carrying out different developmental activities.

It transferred 10 kanal of land situated at village Padergund, tehsil Villagam, district Kupwara in favour of the School Education Department for construction of Government Boys High School Dahama, 2 kanal of land situated at village Nowhatoo, tehsil and district Anantnag for construction of Government Middle School Nowhatoo, Zone Anantnag.

It also transferred 8 kanal land situated at estate Pallar, tehsil and district Budgam in favour of the Social Welfare Department for the construction of Vatsalya Sadan.

Moreover, 200 kanal of land in estate Larmoo tehsil Awantipora district Pulwama was transferred in favour of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora for creating necessary infrastructure.

The AC provided 300 kanal of land situated in estate Kenihama, Tehsil B K Pora, district Budgam in favour of the Higher Education Department for the construction of various establishments of Cluster University, Srinagar.

In another decision, the AC accorded approval to the project development of an industrial estate at Sole Sungal, Akhnoor for the development of 100 kanal of land which includes road widening, retaining and boundary wall, power supply, water supply, administrative block, street lighting, and centralised effluent treatment plant.

The project would be funded out of the capex budget of the department from the year 2023-24.

The project would entail an expenditure of Rs 23.78 crore.

As of date, out of 100 kanal of land, 72 kanal have been allotted to the entrepreneurs and 28 kanal of land is under utilities.

The project would boost industrial development in the Jammu division along with employing the youth as it envisages setting up of developmental estate which would attract investment of Rs 33.27 crore, creating job avenues for around 500 youth.

Advisor to LG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Principal Secretary to LG Mandeep Kumar Bhandari also attended the meeting.