VIJAYAWADA: Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy said commercial tax department has been added to the state’s finance ministry to keep all revenue earning departments in one place. “There is no other intention of attaching commercial tax department to finance department,” he maintained, refuting allegations on inclusion of commercial tax department into finance ministry.
The minister was reviewing the performance related to Department of Commerce with officials of commercial taxes department on Tuesday at Vijayawada. He explained that union government has centralized all revenue departments. This is the reason why AP too has attached commercial tax department to finance ministry.
Rajendranath said centre has so far disbursed ₹ 3,274 crore of GST funds to Andhra Pradesh. Another ₹ 2,000 crore are still due from the union government.
The minister said CAG's objections to use of public funds are "most natural" and state government has been constantly responding to these queries. He stated that AP State Development Corporation has been set up to implement welfare schemes in the state. The government is spending loans borrowed in implementing schemes like Rythu Bharosa, Cheyuta, YSR Aasara and others. No loans are being misused, he maintained.
The minister pointed out that mortgage of lands is natural when taking loans. He said it is the government's policy to take loans and issue GOs in the name of governor.
Special chief secretary Rajat Bhargava, chief commissioner (Sales Tax) Ravi Shankar Narayanan and others participated in the meeting.
