Four depts spring a surprise, surpass revenue target

Mumbai: Notwithstanding the fears expressed by the state finance minister Dilip Walse-Patil, four key departments—sales tax, stamp duty, excise and transport, have surprisingly managed to surpass the target set by the government.
A few months ago, when Walse-Patil reviewed key departments, he was told that it would not be possible to achieve the target set in March 2008 for the year 2008-2009. In fact, then heads of some of the departments had urged the government to reduce the target.
Subsequently, when Walse-Patil presented his interim budget, he too had expressed fears that there will be a shortfall of at least Rs 2,000 crore against the target. “The turnaround was possible owing to the stringent enforcement of rules and the recovery of fines at all levels,’’ C S Sangitrao, transport and excise secretary told TOI.
Against the target of Rs 2,200 crore, the transport department was able to mobilise Rs 2,234 crore, despite the fact that lesser number of vehicles were sold during the financial year 2008-2009. While 12 lakh motor vehicles were sold in ’06-07, 11.68 lakh in ’07-08, less than 10.5 lakh motor vehicles were sold in ’08-09. To ensure that there was no shortfall in revenue mobilisation, the transport department plugged loopholes, implemented the Motor Vehicle Act more effectively and above all, recovered fines and penalties at all levels. “We strengthened the checkposts further, as a result, we mobilised more revenue,’’ Sangitrao added.
However, it was found that the performance of regional transport officers of Thane, Amravati, Dhule, Nagpur and Kolhapur was dismal especially in relation to the target, he said. “We have issued showcause notices to all these five RTOs and will initiate a departmental probe against them due to their performance,’’ he added.
On the performance of the excise department, Sangitrao said that against the target of Rs 4,300 crore, the department was able to mobilise Rs 4,327 crore. The increased revenue was owing to the rising consumption of Indian-made foreign and country liquor. “We were able to stop the illegal trading of liquor with stricter implementation of excise and prohibition laws. As a result, we were able to surpass the target,’’ he added.
Salex tax commissioner Sanjay Bhatia too confirmed that his department was able to achieve his target. Against the target of Rs 30,489 crore, the department mobilised Rs 33,609 crore. In November 2008, it seemed that in view of the slowdown in the economy, the department would miss the target. However, the sleuths of the sales tax department galvanised its entire network, ensured that the laws were enforced in letter as well as spirit and that absolutely no leniency was shown in any case. “For us, it was a surprise when we achieved the target,’’ a sales tax department official said.
The task of the stamp duty and registration department was difficult as there was a slump in the real estate market. However, against the target of Rs 8,200 crore, the department realised Rs 8327.07 crore. “Our achievement was 101%. However, compared to the previous year, it was less as during 2007-08, we had mobilised 118% of the target,’’ a senior revenue official said.
During the year 2008-09, the department registered 17.82 lakh documents against 18.47 lakh registered last year. “Though fewer documents were registered in the current year, we were able to achieve the target owing to the effective enforcement of rules,’’ he said.