West Bengal witnessed a 35 per cent growth in revenue collection to reach Rs 14,176 crore during the first six months of this fiscal. The State targets Rs 31,000 crore of revenue in 2012-13.

“We have collected total revenue of Rs 14,176 crore between April and September this fiscal. During the corresponding period last year, it was Rs 10,428 crore,” State Finance Minister Amit Mitra told reporters after the 112th Annual General Meeting of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce here on Monday.

According to him, the implementation of electronic transaction systems in tax collection aided the Government in revenue collection. The Government expects to maintain an average of 25 per cent growth in revenue collection this fiscal.

e-Stamping

The West Bengal Government recently introduced e-stamping facility to collect stamp duties online. E-stamping has been made compulsory for registration of property worth Rs 70 lakh and above (requiring more than Rs 5 lakh as stamp duty).

Mitra said that the State is in talks with the Union Government to introduce Pawan Hans chartered aircraft service between Kolkata and Cooch Behar, which would also cover Bagdogra and Malda.

The Minister added that the State Government was ready to subsidise four to five seats initially till the service becomes viable.

MSME Clusters

The State Government has also identified land for 57 micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) clusters across the State, Mitra said.

“The focus will be on MSMEs. 57 clusters have been identified. Land is available. Our target is to set up 112 clusters of small and medium enterprises — which are labour-intensive, tax generating and IT-based,” he said.

> ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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