SHILLONG:
The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India (Revenue Sector) for the year ending March 31, 2020, tabled by Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on the final day of the Autumn session, has revealed that the state loss revenue amounting to Rs. 1,166.89 crore – which is 48.19 percent of the Meghalaya’s own tax revenue for 2019-2020.
As per the CAG report, this was due to under assessment/short/non-levy in 498 cases leading to loss of revenue.
The report also states that during the year, the departments accepted under assessment/short/non-levy/loss of revenue of Rs. 376.97 crore in 293 cases pointed out in 2019-2020 and recovered Rs. 12.81 crore.
According to the CAG, during the audit it was noticed that the revenue earning departments had weak internal controls to detect under-assessment, short payment, evasion of taxes, fees, royalties and other irregularities.
“There was no system in place to actively exchange information and coordinate amongst the departments for cross-verification of records to detect illegal transportation of minerals, evasion of royalties, excise duty among others.