New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday blamed Centre for the poor tax collection in Delhi during financial year 2014-15.
Hitting at central government Sisodia said, "During 2014-15 Delhi was deprived of a democratically elected Government. Delhi was administered by the Central Government through the office of Lt Governor. The absence of a democratically elected Government has had its direct impact on the tax collection of Delhi."
The Finance Minister mentioned the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Delhi at current prices in the financial year ending March 31, 2015 is Rs 4,51,154 crore showing a growth of 15.35 per cent over previous year. Tax collection grew only by a meagre 2,64 per cent.
The negative growth of real estate sector is also one of the reasons for an adverse impact on the collection of Stamps and Registration Fee.
In case of VAT, State Excise and Motor Vehicle Tax, growth of 2.03 per cent, 8.59 per cent and 10.61 per cent respectively was registered during 2014-15.
Sisodia mentioned that the Fourteenth Central Finance Commission has recommended increased devolution of Central Taxes to States from 32 per cent to 42 per cent.
"Delhi being excluded from the terms of reference of the Finance Commission is deprived of the benefit from this recommendation, although Delhi has a separate consolidated fund like other States and all financial transactions of the Government are met from its own resources.
"Had this recommendation been applied to Delhi, then Delhi would have received approximately Rs 25,000 crore during the award period (2015-2020)," Sisodia said.
According to the government statistics the rate of inflation in Delhi during 2014-15 was 6.6 per cent as compared to 8.3 per cent in Mumbai, 6.1 per cent in Kolkata and 6.4 per cent at the national level.
"Government is constantly monitoring prices of essential commodities. Efforts will be made through timely market intervention to control the prices.
"Government is creating buffer stock of onion and potato and will release it in the market during scarcity of the commodity," Sisodia said.
