Haryana Budget likely to be presented in Feb end: FM

The Haryana budget for the financial year 2017-18 is likely be presented in the Assembly by February end, Finance minister Abhimanyu said today.
Usually the state budget is presented about 15-20 days after the Union Budget, he said when asked about the possible date of presentation of the State Budget as this time Union Budget is expected to be presented on February 1.
Abhimanyu said Haryana Parliamentary Affairs minister Ram Bilas Sharma would discuss the issue with the Assembly Speaker and representatives of political parties and only then the date would be finalised, which he expect to be in February end.

Over detection of 'Hawala' entry of over Rs 1,000 crore in Charkhi Dadri of the state, he said the state and the Central governments, IT Department and Enforcement Directorate had been working in close coordination for the last two months to check any violation of law in view of demonetisation.
Action was being taken against those found carrying unaccounted cash, he said.
On when would the state government give the benefit of 7th Pay Commission to its pensioners and family pensioners, he said Haryana was the first state to give the benefit of the pay commission to its employees with effect from January 1, 2016.

On the other hand, there are state governments that have announced to give this benefit from 2018, he said, adding the Centre has set up committees to give their recommendations on various issues like giving benefits of 7th Pay Commission to employees of Boards and Corporations.

As and when the recommendations would be received, the state government would give the benefit accordingly, he said.
In reply to a question concerning the new Excise Policy of the state government, he said it was expected in February.
When asked that what action the state government has taken against those HCS officers who were charge-sheeted for their role in the Jat Reservation agitation, Abhimanyu said the Home Department was processing the case.

In reply to a question concerning the demand for inclusion of Jats in the ninth schedule for giving them the benefit of reservation, he said, "Ninth schedule is not the final protection."
However, the state government has got the law enacted and if inclusion in ninth schedule is necessary, the government would do accordingly, he said.
Describing introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in
the country as a revolutionary initiative of 'One Nation-One Tax System' which would simplify the tax system between the States and the Centre, he said most of the states have agreed to introduce the GST with effect from July 1.

As per the amendment in the Constitution, the GST has to be implemented before September 16, this year.
In reply to a question that whether the state government would suffer any loss with the introduction of GST, he hoped that it would not be so as the state would get compensation at a rate of 14 per cent of the revenue for the year 2015-16. This would be admissible for five years.
In reply to a question, the Finance minister said according to an estimate, in the country, 86 per cent of the dealers have turnover of Rs 1.5 crore, whereas 14 per cent have more turnover.

These 14 per cent dealers give more revenue.
He said the GST has four slabs of five per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 27 per cent.
The issue of an additional cess of 45 to 50 per cent on demerit goods and luxury items is under consideration, he said.
The cess would be used by the Central government to compensate the states in lieu of loss suffered by them due to introduction of GST, he said.
He said that the dealers having an annual turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh would not be under the ambit of GST.

In case of dealers having annual turnover between Rs 20 lakh and upto Rs 1.5 crore, 90 per cent of them would be evaluated by the officers of the concerned state government and 10 per cent by the officers of the central government.
Each such officer would be able to evaluate the same firms for a period of three years, he said.
However, in case of firms having annual turnover of more than Rs 1.5 crore, the officers of the Central and the state governments would evaluate them in a ratio of 50:50, he said.
He said the online system would help in maintaining transparency.

Appeals concerning place of production of a product can be made with the central government, he said.
He said a new campaign of economic reforms has been implemented in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley.
The demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes have checked black-money, corruption and counterfeit currency, he said.