The Haryana government today took a slew of decisions including introduction of a scheme to facilitate recovery of tax from builders and writing off Rs 84.39 lakh of electricity duty on three firms during a Cabinet meeting here.
The state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also gave ex-post-facto approval to a Commission inquiring into the Jat quota stir.
In order to facilitate hassle-free and timely recovery of tax from developers and builders for the period prior to April 1, 2014, the government introduced 'Haryana Alternative Tax (HAT) Compliance Scheme for Contractors, 2016'.
An official spokesman said the scheme will enable the government quickly recover tax for the said period, withheld due to litigation, and also benefit the customers.
Haryana already has an existing scheme for builders and developers under which a lump sum tax at a rate of 1.05 per cent is payable for the period April 1, 2014 onwards.
Now, with the introduction of this scheme, a simplified tax at a rate of 1.05 per cent shall be applicable for the period prior to April 1, 2014 also.
As per the scheme, a contractor may exercise his option to apply within 90 days from the date of the notification of the scheme.
He shall pay 25 per cent of the total tax payable under the scheme along with the application, and the remaining 75 per cent shall be paid in three equal quarterly installments.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Power Department to write off outstanding amount of Rs 84.39 lakh of electricity duty on three firms- Competent Alloys, Ballabgarh (Rs 16.01 lakh), Dalmia Dadri Cement Factory, Dadri (Rs 30.03 lakh, and Rama Fibers Ltd. Bhiwani (Rs 38.34 lakh).
The spokesman said the amount could not be recovered despite efforts of the DHBVN and the electricity bills against these firms was declared as 'bad debt' by the Nigam.
Therefore, it was decided to write off this amount,
The outstanding amount has not been recovered for the last 17 years in case of Competent Alloys, for the last 30 years in the case of Dalmia Dadri Cement Factory, and for 19 years in case of Rama Fibers Ltd.
The Cabinet also gave its ex-post-facto approval to the appointment of a two-member Commission to inquire into the sequence of events leading to and relating to the occurrence of violence during the February Jat stir.
While Justice (Retd.) SN Jha is the Chairman of the Commission, former IPS officer NC Padhi, is the other member.
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The government also decided to exempt 'Technetium 99M Generators' used for diagnosis of cancer from levy of VAT.
The spokesman said Technetium 99M Generator is a radioactive substance used for diagnosis of cancer.
In another decision the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Department to establish 'Haryana Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board' to improve the educational and economic status of Nomadic, Vimukt (Denotified Tribes) and Tapriwas.
The Cabinet also decided to reduce the fee for grant, renewal and countersignature of permit for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and other vehicles between 75 to 50 per cent.
It will benefit the transport sector to the tune of about Rs 25 Crore per annum, the spokesman said.
He said that now fee for issue and renewal of permit for two/three-wheeled motor vehicles in the state would be Rs 1,000 for five years instead of Rs 2,000 and Rs 250 for a year instead of Rs 500.
Similarly, in case of Light Motor Vehicles, the fee would be Rs 3,500 for five years instead of Rs 10,000 and Rs 800 for a year instead of Rs 2,500.
In case of other motor vehicles, the fee would be Rs 5,250 for five years instead of Rs 25,000 earlier and Rs 1,200 for a year instead of Rs 6,000 earlier.
The fee for countersignature of permits in the entire State for two/three wheeled motor vehicles has been reduced from Rs 500 to Rs 250 for one year. The fee for transfer of permit in case of two/three-
wheeled motor vehicles would be Rs 200. For Light Motor Vehicles, it would be Rs 500 and in case of other motor vehicles, it would be Rs 1,000.
In case of transfer of permit, no fee except the transfer fee will be charged during the validity of the permit.
The meeting also approved transfer of 1 acre land of Horticulture Department at Government Garden and Nursery at Fatehpur, Panchkula, to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad to establish Regional Centre of Organic Farming.
The land would be transferred on lease basis for a period of 99 years at a lease rent rate of Rs 1,000 per acre per annum for promotion of organic farming in the state.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to transfer land measuring six kanal seven Marla belonging to Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department located at village Rampura, District Rewari to Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam to set up a 33 KVA substation.
In another decision the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department to transfer eight acres land to Sports Department for construction of a block level stadium at Tohana in district Fatehabad.
