Bhatti: Explore ways to augment state revenues
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2024-06-07 16:57 GMT
Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, who holds the finance portfolio, has directed officials to explore ways to mobilise additional revenue and increase the state government's income. The enforcement department should be strengthened to achieve the Budget estimates, he said.
He said the Singareni Collieries had saved hundreds of crores by shifting its loans to institutions that charged less interest, and said the TGRTC should follow suit.
Bhatti was speaking at a meeting held to review the performance of revenue-earning departments at the Secretariat on Friday, along with ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Ponnam Prabhakar. He reviewed the functioning of finance, revenue, excise, transport and Arogyasri departments.
After examining the performance in the first two months of the current fiscal, Bhatti and directed the officials to gear up their machinery to improve performance and ensure that there were no leakages.
Bhatti inquired about the functioning of the commercial taxes committee to increase revenue. The department should hold review meetings in various wings frequently to bolster revenues and check evasion, he said.
He asked the officials to speed up the process of long-pending Land Regularisation Scheme (LRS); over 25 lakh applications are pending since October 2020. The process was started before the issuance of election notification. He examined the reasons for the lack of progress under the LRS.
He asked the officials to speed up the process of long-pending Land Regularisation Scheme (LRS); over 25 lakh applications are pending since October 2020. The process was started before the issuance of election notification. He examined the reasons for the lack of progress under the LRS.
Bhatti said that LRS should be applied only to eligible sites. There is a danger of some persons getting encroached government land regularized under the scheme, he cautioned.
He sought the details of houses constructed under Housing Board, Rajiv Swagruha schemes and the revenue by their sales. He also took stock of the unsold houses, plots and their condition.
On the Rajiv Aarogyasri scheme, he said the main objective should be to keep the common people satisfied. A method is being implemented to release pending Aarogyasri bills every month.
Officials should hold discussions with private hospitals to extend medical treatment at the rates being offered in government hospitals. They should be told that the Aarogyasri scheme is part of social responsibility.
Special chief secretary, finance, K. Ramakrishna Rao, commissioners T.K. Sridevi (commercial tax) and Budha Prasad (transport), finance joint secretary Haritha, Deputy CM's special secretary Krishna Bhaskar attended the meeting.