Bhatti Vikramarka bats for revenue mobilisation, defends GST cuts despite Rs 5,000 crore loss

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has directed officials to intensify revenue mobilisation efforts across departments, citing an annual loss of Rs 5,000 crore due to recent GST rate revisions. At a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting, he called for reviews, policy proposals, and a report on improving collections in the Stamps and Registration Department.

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka directed top officials to intensify efforts to boost the State revenues, which are on the decline. He acknowledged that Telangana would lose about Rs.5,000 crore annually due to the recent GST rate revisions.

Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on State Revenue Resources Mobilisation at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the Commercial Tax department to hold circle-wise reviews and study best practices in other States.

---

He asked the officials to identify reasons for revenue shortfalls in the Transport department and formulate a policy to overcome them. He wanted all departments to come up with proposals on steps required to enhance revenue in their respective departments.

He instructed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to submit a detailed report within 15 days on improving revenue in the Stamps and Registration department.

Later, addressing the business community at an interaction organised by the Commercial Taxes Department at MCRHRD Institute, Bhatti Vikramarka defended the GST revisions as a policy decision taken for the welfare of poor, middle-class and farming families.

He said rationalisation would make agricultural equipment, food products and cement cheaper, benefiting crores. Cement GST has been slashed from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, which he said would spur growth in the construction sector.