'Up to Rs 8,000 cr benefit to Jharkhand from tax share hike'

Following the Centre's acceptance of recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, Jharkhand will benefit to the tune of Rs 7000-Rs 8000 crore, Chief Minister Raghuvar Das said today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to all Chief Ministers saying his government accepted the Finance Commission's recommendations for a substantial hike in share of states in central taxes.
Das hailed the Prime Minister for this saying distribution of share of central taxes had remained an important issue.
"Modi ji believes that if the states become stronger, the nation will get stronger," Das, also a senior BJP leader, said in press conference.
He said that the Union government has adopted a transparent approach to auction 204 coal blocks including 40 in Jharkhand after their allocation was cancelled on the directive of the Supreme Court following the coal-gate scam.

Out of those 40, only two were auctioned and the state was benefited by Rs 14,000 crore, the chief minister said.

Stating that the fund will be utilised in a proper manner in the interest of the state and its people, Das warned that the state government will not compromise with the transparency and accountability nor tolerate any laxity in the implementation of development projects and welfare schemes.
On the line of Union Government, he said the state government will ensure developing districts so that the state becomes stronger.
Our priority will be to develop IT, Education, Health, Irrigation and other sectors, he said adding that IT sector has an important role to play in eradicating corruption.

Das announced that his government will soon set up IT cell in each district.
Stating that the government has been exploring ways to to double the revenue in the next few years, he said "We have two check posts and we have plans to set up nine more check posts to collect taxes," he said.
Officials were asked to set up temporary sheds in the proposed locations and start work till a check post was established in a proper manner, Das said.