New Delhi, Aug 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a taxation platform through video-conferencing to honour honest tax payers and bring more transparency in the tax collection.

Speaking after launching a platform ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring The Honest’ to honour the honest taxpayers of the country, the Prime Minister said the new tax reforms will instill a sense of fearlessness among the honest taxpayers who play an important role in national development.

“The honest taxpayer has an important role in nation building and when the life of an honest taxpayer becomes easier and he progresses, then the country also moves on path of development and progress,’ he said.

PM Modi said the ongoing process of structural reforms has reached a new stage today.

“There was a time when we used to talk a lot about reforms. Sometimes, decisions were taken in desperation or under pressure. Because of this, the intended results were not achieved. Now, this thinking as well as approach have changed,’ he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the last six years, focus has been on banking the unbanked and securing the unsecured.

‘Earlier, our focus has been on banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured, funding the unfunded. Today, we are launching honouring the honest,’ PM Modi said.

Talking about the new platform, the Prime Minister said, “It will bring in faceless assessment, faceless appeal, and taxpayers’ charter. Faceless assessment and taxpayers charter come in force from today, whereas faceless appeal service will be available from September 25.”

PM Modi said the platform will be a new milestone in the structural reforms initiated by the government.

“It strengthens our resolve of minimum government, maximum governance. The emphasis is on making every rule-law, policy people-centric and public friendly. This is the use of the new governance model and the country is getting its results,” the PM said.

‘In the past six years, India has witnessed the evolution of a new governance model in tax administration. We have decreased – complexity, taxes, litigation, and increased – transparency, tax compliance, and trust on the taxpayer,’he said.

This is a big step towards reducing the government’s interference in the lives of the countrymen, he added.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Thursday chaired a meeting of concerned officers on conservation of Hokarsar, Wular and Kreentcho-Chandhara wetlands.

During the meeting, the Div Com reviewed the progress made viz a viz to demarcation, land transfer, installation of boundary walls, pillars, removal of encroachments,  and non- dumping of solid waste.

Concerned DCs were directed to ensure removal of all encroachments within 45 days period and prevent people from using wetlands for agricultural activities.

He instructed concerned to take stringent action including register FIRs against the offenders indulging in repeated illegal activities.

The Div Com directed concerned to constitute committees and activate field staff teams for close monitoring of wetlands.

He said that only organic farming on over 500 kanals of private land of Kreentcho wetland is allowed so that farming does not pose any threat to the wetland and is in consonance with the wetland rules.

Emphasizing on the timely completion of installation of boundary pillars, Div Com said that the step would prevent illegal encroachments on wetlands.

The Div Com directed concerned to ensure immediate removal of already dumped waste from Hokarsar and other wetlands and emphasized that only alternate and shifted dumping sites are in use for dumping purposes.

The Div Com said that he would chair a meeting of all concerned next month to take detailed review on action taken report and measures taken by all concerned for conservation of wetlands.

He also directed concerned to expedite beautification work on wetlands and called for massive awareness generation on importance  on wetland preservation.

Meanwhile, all DCs were given directions to start work on creation of new water bodies under MGNREGA funds and submit all formats as required along with the action taken reports in this regard.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13:  Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Thursday held a public outreach programme at Chadoora in Budgam district and met scores of public delegations and individuals who apprised him of their problems and demands.

He also inspected various ongoing development works being executed under MGNREGA in Chadoora block and directed the concerned officers to expedite the pace of progress on these vital works for timely completion.

During the public outreach programme, Advisor met various delegations who apprised him of their grievances and demands pertaining to development of their respective areas.

Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza, Director Rural Development Department, Kashmir Qazi Sarwar, district officers from various departments among other concerned functionaries were present on the occasion.

A delegation from B K Pora demanded availability of adequate irrigation facilities besides macadamisation of road in the area and other development issues.

A delegation of Fruit Growers demanded upgradation and expansion of basic infrastructure in fruit Mandi and continuation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Another delegation of traders from the district demanded remission of loans to compensate the losses suffered by them due to COVID-19 lockdown.

A  delegation from Charar-i-Sharief demanded macadamisation of roads in the town and completion of pending road projects in the area besides water supply, bus stand and other issues related to education in their area.

A delegation of Municipal Committee demanded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, drinking water supply, grid station, fencing of graveyard and other issues.

Another delegation from Kanipora demanded replacement of power supply line and electric poles in the area.

A delegation from Nowgam demanded drainage facility and completion of roads under PMGSY.

Advisor Khan assured the deputations and individuals that all their issues would be addressed in a phased manner.

Advisor Khan directed the officers to synergize their efforts so that the targeted results are achieved under various development schemes being implemented in the area. He also asked them to seek public feedback about the status of works being done in their respective areas.