In a significant move, the Punjab government has decided to go in for sample checking of vehicles carrying goods at information collection centres (ICCs). This has been done to minimise the interference in the movement of goods and the subsequent harassment of transporters and drivers alike. ICCs will undertake only sample checking of vehicle not exceeding 0.5-1% of the total number of freight vehicles.
On being asked if this move will encourage tax evasion, the industry and commerce minister of the state, Manoranjan Kalia, said, ?If there are doubts, we will stop transporters for checking and necessary action will be taken. In an earlier practice around 50-80% of the total freight vehicles had to stop for random checking at these centres. Sometimes truck drivers wait for days together to get their documents checked at the tax collections centres. The new move will certainly allow the smooth flow of goods within the state?.
Kalia told FE that in case a truck is impounded, the scrutiny of papers by excise and taxation department will be done at the place where the dealer is registered and not at the place where a truck has been impounded. Hailing the decision which is part of the new industrial policy 2009, president of Punjab state council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gunbir Singh, told FE, ?This move will save precious time and resources of the industry. Random checks, which were impacting the smooth flow of goods in the state, will go down. Now the checking will be done by inspectors and senior officials only which will reduce the possibility of corruption.? Concerned with the tax evasion on goods moving through Punjab, the state government had introduced 36 computerised ICCs in the state. Information regarding goods being carried by vehicles is to be given at the information collection centres. To streamline activities at the ICCs, privatisation and modernisation work is being undertaken by the state government.