PANJIM: Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to make budgetary provisions to make speedy payments to private hospitals under Deen Dayal Swasth Seva Yojana (DDSSY) schemes which are delayed due to administrative procedures and to rationalise Stamp Duty for mining industry to promote ease of doing business.
In a pre-budget memorandum submitted to Sawant, who also holds the finance portfolio, the GCCI president Srinivas Dempo said, “Government needs to make budgetary provisions to make speedy payments to private hospitals under DDSSY schemes which are delayed due to administrative procedures. There is a need to explore alternate ways to fulfil the payments through advances from third party funding agencies like banks, EDC Ltd etc. to streamline the process of clearing DDSSY applications.”
The industry body has said there is double stamp duty on the same transaction, one on agreement and the other on Power of Attorney (PoA).
As per the provisions, set off of stamp duty against the stamp duty on conveyance is available for agreements for sale. No set off provisions are available in case of a PoA,
The Stamp Duty on PoA becomes an additional burden, which goes to increase the cost of construction which is already very high in Goa, Dempo said.
“A power of attorney is executed on account of the landowner not being available to carry out the sale. Instead of the landowner carrying out the sale, his power of attorney holder merely represents him to execute the sale deed. Hence we request withdrawal of Stamp Duty on PoA,” he said.
The GCCI has suggested not to impose new taxes and not to increase existing taxes on the industry in the budget. It has urged the Chief Minister to develop infrastructure for dedicated mining Corridors, which is a must for sustainable and environment-friendly mining in Goa. It has also suggested proper utilisation of District Mineral Fund (DMF) and Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund (GIOPF) to create model villages and for upgrading and creating mining infrastructure.
The GCCI has also suggested reduction of fees for beach weddings from Rs 86,000 to Rs 50,000 and to discontinue allowing GCZMA to collect fees since it is not a body for collection of funds for the government.
