Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 21 : The Public Opinion Forum (POF) has expressed anguish and surprise over reported stalling of tax collection initiative of the Income Tax (IT) from Kashmir Valley by the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers.
The members of the Forum, in a meeting held here, expressed great concern over what happened in the Summer Capital. They mentioned that where as Jammu and Kashmir Government has always been demanding more and more funds from the Centre, mostly for the development projects of Kashmir Valley, but, on the other hand, the people in general are always reluctant to pay the Income Tax, VAT and other taxes.
The Forum added that the political leadership of the valley, including those in power not only support but also encourage them for not paying the due taxes. It was a hard realty that about 70 percent of the state's revenue comes from Jammu Region and as for as Income Tax collection was concerned the major portion of this collection comes from Jammu Province.
It was unfortunate that Kashmiri leaders, in particular those sitting at the helm of the affairs, instead of persuading the people to pay their due taxes ask them against paying their dues. In this way they were encouraging the corruption and their exercise is boomeranging in state economy as a result the contribution to the state revenue is always short fall of state expenditure, discussing the issue, the members said.
Meanwhile, as per the electricity consumption dues are concerned, Jammu province was the major contributor. Jammu Province consumes about 40 percent of the electricity and pays 60 percent electricity tariff, where as Kashmir pays 40 percent of tariff against 60 percent of power consumed by it. The financial position of the state was such that it depends on the Centre Government even for the payment of salaries to its employees. |
