Transport dept reels under CAG wheels

Transport dept reels under CAG wheels
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 2
After CAG castigated transport department for perforated border routes, the transport secretary has asked the department to submit detailed report.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report had stated that the North Goa is accessible through seven different routes, which are not manned.
 “At Dhargal check post in Pernem, motor vehicles can enter Goa through seven different diversion routes bypassing the check posts and evading payment of tax,” the report noted.
These seven routes include Devso, Kiranpani, Parcem, Patradevi, Sansuli, Satardev and Terekhol.
CAG report which is awaiting reply from the transport department over the matter has said that there are chances of tax evasions at borders and as such there is a requirement for the department to attempt to plug these loopholes.
“I have already issued order to the transport director to give detail report over the tax collection at various check posts,” transport secretary Narendra Kumar told Herald.
He said that he was aware of the tax evasions at the border routes but could not do much, as the transport department failed in providing necessary inputs.
“I had given orders for the same long back but since our former director Arvind Lolienkar was handling more then one charge he was not in a position to provide the details,” Kumar added.
Apart from this, CAG has also pointed out that the Keri-Sanquelim check post was functional only for two months — February and March 2006 and the reasons for its closure have not been furnished till date, thus leading to further loss in tax collection.
Audit scrutiny for composite tax in pursuance of reciprocal agreements also revealed that Karnataka and Maharashtra goods-vehicles entering Goa travel 30 to 80 kms before paying the composite tax which is to be paid only at RTO Panjim.