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| Qarra's crackdown at Lakhanpur | | Six officials suspended, orders for arrest of agents | | Early Times Reporter
Kathua/Jammu, Sept 15: In a surprise crackdown at Lakhanpur, the Minister for Finance Tariq Hamid Qarra ordered arrest of hundreds of unscrupulous agents and middlemen even as he ordered immediate suspension of six officers of the Sales Tax department found indulging in corrupt practices.
The Finance Minister who reached Srinagar only a couple of days back after his visit to London and Brazil today made a surprise visit to Lakhanpur toll post and launched a crackdown on corrupt nexus of unauthorized agents and officials of the department.
Sources confirmed that at least six officers of the department were suspended by the minister for not following the directions issued by him. Qarra said the department was directed to exhibit the photographs of authorized transport agents at the spots but they did not followed the instructions.
'' Instead of authorised agents, hundreds of unauthorised agents were indulged in an illegal affair under the nose of senior officers,'' Qarra said. ''When I came to know about the operation, I visited the spot and broke down the nexus. Six officers of Sales and Tax Department were suspended and directions issued to get the unauthorised agents-- more than hundred in number-- arrested,'' he added.
The minister further added that in a meeting with the District Administration, guidelines have been issued to keep a watch on the unauthorised agents indulging in the unlawful practice. '' The Sales and Tax Department have also been told to get their machines checked by the Weight and Measures Department and ensure honest working,'' Qarra added.
Later addressing officers of Excise and Taxation department at a meeting convened to review its functioning at Jammu, besides the status of the work on various projects taken in hand, Minster directed them to strengthen communication and mobility of the department to track down Vehicles who attempt to evade toll tax by resorting to certain unfair means. He said the officers have to be vigilant enough to create a scare among the transporters who try to breach the department.
He also told the officers to prepare a list of the transporters who indulge in such practices so that they could be black listed.
Reviewing the pace of work on the upgradation of existing Toll Posts at Lakanpur and Lower Munda and execution of other works at Nagri, Udhampur Rajouri and Upshi, he called for early completion of all these projects. He specifically stressed the need for strengthening Lower Munda and newly set up Nagri toll post adding that generation of maximum revenue and plugging its pilferage should be the ultimate objective of the department.
Inquiring about the maintaining of the inventory of the departmental assets, minister told the authorities to put the details of the same on the official website.
Exhorting upon the officers to work with more zeal and dedication, he said the Excise and taxation department is the back bone of the state which generates resources for the progress and development.
On inquiring about the achievements on revenue collection for the current year, he was informed that 42 percent of the set target has already been released in five months time and the department is looking forward to surpass the targets by a big margin.
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