Amount stands at Rs 5,223.8 crore as on March 31, 2024
Panaji: Pulling up the state government for being slack in collecting revenue arrears from its various departments, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, tabled in the assembly on Friday, said Goa’s mounting arrears stand at Rs 5,223.8 crore, comprising a substantial 39% (Rs 12,945 crore) of the state’s own resources as on March 31, 2024.
The arrears are spread across 18 departments, of which the commercial tax department, electricity department and water resources department together hold the highest arrears at Rs 4,878.9 crore (93%).
According to the CAG report on State Finances for 2023-24, “During the exit conference held in March, this year, the finance department had stated that efforts are being made to collect revenue arrears of all departments. However, 42% of the arrears are outstanding for more than three years.”
Highlighting the lethargic approach of the government in addressing the pending arrears, the CAG report states that 12 departments have not provided information on their outstanding revenues.
These 12 departments include excise, transport, Goa Medical College, river navigation and South Goa Collectorate.
The audit findings flag the case of Swastik Cruises, which owes rent of Rs 48.9 lakh towards the use of Betim jetty from June 2014 to December 2023.
The CAG has asked the state government to take necessary measures to recover the outstanding arrears, as it is crucial for enhancing revenue receipts and achieving the fiscal deficit targets.
Making mention of tax evasion cases detected by the excise department and the lack of effort in recovery of money, the report states, “Evasion cases finalised and demands for additional tax raised are important indicators of revenue collection efforts of the state.”
The CAG report points out that 1,211 cases of tax evasion were detected by the excise department during 2023-24, and investigation of 1,092 cases has been completed. However, the number of evasion cases awaiting disposal by the excise department is still significantly high at 1,893 at the end of 2023-24, states the report.
Similarly, office of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes disclosed 249 pending cases of evasion with regard to Value Added Tax (VAT) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a further 25 cases were detected in 2023-24. “Assessment in respect of 46 cases had been completed, raising an additional demand of only Rs 6.8 crore. However, of the remaining 228 cases of evasion, the assessment remained pending,” the CAG report states.
