Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 23: With a view of give impetus to the relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood ravaged state, the Government has granted exemption from levy of entry tax and toll on the import of relief material for free distribution among flood affected victims.
This was announced by the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Ab. Rahim Rather at a high level meeting of the senior officers of excise, commercial taxes, accounts and treasuries departments convened here today at Civil Secretariat here.
The Principal Secretary Finance, B.B. Vyas, Director General Accounts and Treasures, Altaf Hussain Mirza, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Excise Commissioner, Zafar Ahmad Bhat, all the District Treasury Officers of the Kashmir Division and concerned officers were present in the meeting.
The Minister said that the Government has also granted exemption from levy of entry tax and toll on import of equipment and material for restoration of telecommunication services and infra structure by the respective telecom companies, J&K Power Development Department and PWD (R&B). He said concerned officers at the Lakhanpur toll post have been directed to implement these directions on ground so that supply of goods being imported for relief and rehabilitation material is not hampered in any case.
Mr. Rather said that the Union Ministry of Finance is also being approached to grant income tax exemption on donations made for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people of the state.
While reviewing the status of Accounts and Treasuries Department, the meeting was informed that all the treasures in the state have been made functional and an amount of Rs. 188 cr has been released today through various treasuries. However, he said the flood affected treasuries of Lal Mandi, Civil Secretariat and Pampore have started functioning from alternative sites.
Mr. Rather directed the District Treasury Officers to make payments related to flood relief on priority, adding that nothing should be kept pending on account of relief payments.
He said that the Secretary, Insurance, GoI will also be approached to push more teams of various Insurance Companies to J&K to expeditiously settle insurance claims of flood affected victims and cut short normal procedures in this regard.
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