Shortage of infrastructure renders Henbung check-post impotent
Taxable goods gain free entry
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 12 2011:
The Henbung check-post set up with the objective of ascertaining the quantity of taxable goods imported into the State and levy due taxes for generating State revenue is still unable to live up to its task fully.
The Henbung check-post was set up on December 1 last year and it became functional from the next day.
However, the check-post is unable to check all the taxable goods imported into Manipur due to acute shortage of infrastructure.
Primary tasks of the check-post are verification of goods imported by dealers registered with Taxation Department, collection of transit pass and sending the dealers for payment of taxes at Taxation head office.
Another duty of the check-post is to verify taxable goods and collection of due taxes for such goods imported by non-registered dealers.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Superintendent of Taxation, Henbung Check-Post, W Lokendrajit claimed that the check-post has succeeded in generating significant amount of State revenue in the form of collecting taxes.
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However, the check-post is severely illequipped to check each and every goods imported from outside the State and, as such, it is unable to verify the quantity of taxable goods imported into Manipur.
Lokendrajit attributed this shortcoming to lack of infrastructure.
In the absence of weight bridge at the check-post, the staff have no means to check the weights of consignments that pass through the check-post.
As there is no shed for checking vehicles, vehicles could not be checked on rainy days as one cannot check the vehicles by opening their hoods when it is raining.
These shortfalls often compelled the staff to detain several vehicles at a time, Lokendrajit said.
Altogether 12 staff including one Superintendent of Taxation, three Inspectors, five clerical staff and three Grade IV employees are working in the check-post.
In addition to severe difficulties being faced by the staff due to shortage or unavailability of safe drinking water, the check-post has no adequate furniture.
The staff did not take bath for almost a month due to shortage of water when the check-post was first opened in December last year, Lokendrajit said.
Whereas development of physical infrastructure has been going on at a very slow pace, the check-post has been working round the clock.
The Superintendent said that M/S Wipro Limited has been entrusted with the task of computerising the check-post.
The check-post could collect taxes of Rs 5,52,920 in December last year from casual dealers.
In January, the check-post could collect Rs 7,76,127, Rs 4,70,492 in February, Rs 5,73,527 in March, Rs 6,68,435 in April and Rs 7,88,294 in May.
For goods imported by registered dealers till April this year, challans sent to Taxation head office for paying taxes were Rs 250,47,09,273 from individuals, Rs 96,52,17,551 from Government and Rs 84,10,68,882 as transport bill, Lokendrajit informed.