Mapping of unauthorised commercialisation in residential areas A major source for revenue in Manipur
|
Brigadier (Retired) L Ibotombi Singh
Contd from previous issue
Thereafter, send notices, impose requisite fines. Based on the need and necessity of the area, per- mission may be granted to a few units for commercial uses, by obtaining necessary registrations from competent authorities. This must be regulated strictly. Mani-pur Properties Tax Act 2025 need to be amended by separating taxes for Residential and Commercial uses, the latter may be four times value of the first. This will increase much required revenue of the State. Some immediate recommended concrete actions are:-
a) Mapping : There are approximately more than two lakh units including houses on rent, used for commercial purposes in residential areas in Manipur. This data excludes street vendors. The State Government authorities must map and maintain a record of these commercial units, thereafter carry out registration by the Municipality and Labour Department, which will garner a onetime revenue of approximately Rs 20 crore or so. During the procedure of mapping, the concern authorities can identify illegal encroachments and constructions, for initiating punitive actions.
b) Revenue Collection : Goods and Services Tax, Professional Tax, Property Tax (8% of annual property value), Value Added Tax, Sale Tax, amusement and luxury taxes as applicable, from these commer- cial units will garner annual revenue of approxi- mately 4000 Cr per year.
For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Manipur State’s tax revenue was a mere Rs 2,471 crore (9%) against total revenue receipts of Rs 27,716 crore. Major chunk of the revenue share (90 percent) was by way of grants-in-aid from the Centre and Central taxes. In the revenue starved Ma-nipur State, the above actions will increase own annual revenue collection share to almost 30 percent, thereby marginally reduce dependency from the centre by way of grants-in-aid and Central taxes.
c) Increase Workers Population : The above actions will marginally in- crease Manipur’s employed population percentage under the tertiary sector, which is presently 36 percent of self-employment, with overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) of the State working out to 58.2 percent as of July 2023 – June 2024.
d) Stringent Construction Norms : All residential constructions must be carried out after approval of design and layout by the concerned authorities, ensuring requirement of garages, se- wage cum drainage system, inter house gaps away from the inter/intra leikai roads.
e) Commercial Units on Need Basis: The authorities/departments concerned need to be more pro-active while enforcing eviction of encroachments along with granting permission of residential areas for commercial purpose on need basis. A stringent action combined with amendment of existing laws and rules is the need of the day.
f) Parking Facilities : Vehicle must be sold only to those personnel who have parking facility, for which a requisite certificate signed by the competent authority must be produced at the time of buying including second hand vehicles.
g) Eviction : Ruthlessly carry out anti encroachment drive by imposing heavy penalty, combined with demolitions/ breaking down of illegal ramps extending on the road.
h) Stringent Law Enforcement: Strict enforce- ment of the rules is the need of the day. There are many beautiful laws already enacted, but what is lacking is enforcement.
Contd from previous issue
Thereafter, send notices, impose requisite fines. Based on the need and necessity of the area, per- mission may be granted to a few units for commercial uses, by obtaining necessary registrations from competent authorities. This must be regulated strictly. Mani-pur Properties Tax Act 2025 need to be amended by separating taxes for Residential and Commercial uses, the latter may be four times value of the first. This will increase much required revenue of the State. Some immediate recommended concrete actions are:-
a) Mapping : There are approximately more than two lakh units including houses on rent, used for commercial purposes in residential areas in Manipur. This data excludes street vendors. The State Government authorities must map and maintain a record of these commercial units, thereafter carry out registration by the Municipality and Labour Department, which will garner a onetime revenue of approximately Rs 20 crore or so. During the procedure of mapping, the concern authorities can identify illegal encroachments and constructions, for initiating punitive actions.
b) Revenue Collection : Goods and Services Tax, Professional Tax, Property Tax (8% of annual property value), Value Added Tax, Sale Tax, amusement and luxury taxes as applicable, from these commer- cial units will garner annual revenue of approxi- mately 4000 Cr per year.
For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Manipur State’s tax revenue was a mere Rs 2,471 crore (9%) against total revenue receipts of Rs 27,716 crore. Major chunk of the revenue share (90 percent) was by way of grants-in-aid from the Centre and Central taxes. In the revenue starved Ma-nipur State, the above actions will increase own annual revenue collection share to almost 30 percent, thereby marginally reduce dependency from the centre by way of grants-in-aid and Central taxes.
c) Increase Workers Population : The above actions will marginally in- crease Manipur’s employed population percentage under the tertiary sector, which is presently 36 percent of self-employment, with overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) of the State working out to 58.2 percent as of July 2023 – June 2024.
d) Stringent Construction Norms : All residential constructions must be carried out after approval of design and layout by the concerned authorities, ensuring requirement of garages, se- wage cum drainage system, inter house gaps away from the inter/intra leikai roads.
e) Commercial Units on Need Basis: The authorities/departments concerned need to be more pro-active while enforcing eviction of encroachments along with granting permission of residential areas for commercial purpose on need basis. A stringent action combined with amendment of existing laws and rules is the need of the day.
f) Parking Facilities : Vehicle must be sold only to those personnel who have parking facility, for which a requisite certificate signed by the competent authority must be produced at the time of buying including second hand vehicles.
g) Eviction : Ruthlessly carry out anti encroachment drive by imposing heavy penalty, combined with demolitions/ breaking down of illegal ramps extending on the road.
h) Stringent Law Enforcement: Strict enforce- ment of the rules is the need of the day. There are many beautiful laws already enacted, but what is lacking is enforcement.