Telangana

K Chandrashekar Rao

Andhra Pradesh

GST

: Three days afterChief Ministeracknowledged the serious effects of global meltdown on state revenues, neighbouringalso revealed that it is facing the heat.The officials, however, expressed the hope that the drastically fallen incomes from automobile and other sectors would improve by year end.Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took stock of the state financial position, on Wednesday, during a review on the revenue department. Officials said that they had projected 14 per cent rise in commercial taxes this year but, it had fallen down to 5.3 per cent. Tax revenue did not show the expected increase in the last four months, they said.Fall in iron, steel and cement rates affected the tax revenue.The automobile market has been affected due to(Goods and Service Tax) like all other states, officials told the CM. They are also hopeful of GST share of Rs 597 crore from the Centre and expect 14 per cent increase in commercial tax revenue in the future.It may be mentioned that KCR had advised the officials to prepare budget keeping the realistic revenues in mind. He also called upon the administration to cut unnecessary expenses and indicated that welfare and agriculture sectors would continue to get importance in the budget.Meanwhile, the officials briefed the CM that the liquor sales had shown significant drop on account of the government policy to bring in total prohibition in a phased manner. According to the officials, liquor sales dropped by 12 lakh cases till July.The government is keen to go further aggressive in controlling the liquor consumption. The CM wanted that there should be a lesson in school syllabus on ill effects of liquor besides sensitising village secretariat staff on need of total prohibition. Belt shops (unauthorised outlets of licensed liquor shops in inaccessible areas) have been removed.The state would also come down to only 3,500 stores of liquor by September. Currently, there are 4,380 liquor stores.The government also vowed to increase budget support for anti-liquor activities to Rs 500 crore. The government's policy to run liquor stores under its control will create a job potential of 16,000, the officials said.