Cong rule brings Rs.22 K Cr tax burden

The Congress Governments, which took over the reins of administration in the state after the death of YSR, have continued with their overt and covert policies of burdening the common man to the tune of Rs.22, 000 Cr through imposition of taxes, additional charges and surcharges at frequent intervals.

YSR ruled the state for six years without imposing any new taxes or hiking any utility charges. In comparison, the people are made to suffer and bear the brunt of hiked taxes and new charges thrice in the last three years after the death of YSR.

The Government, which has gone astray with internal squabbles and which has lost control of the administration has raised the power tariff thrice, RTC charges thrice and brought several sectors under the purview of VAT besides enhancing the property tax, water tax and motor vehicle tax in the last three years.

While the hike in power tariff and imposition of surcharge adjustments have fetched an additional revenue of Rs.13, 022 Cr, the bus charges hike has brought in Rs.1900 Cr additionally to the state exchequer.

As this is not enough, the extension of VAT to some more sectors is aimed at fetching revenue of Rs.5000 Cr in excess while the hike in water, property and motor taxes is expected to enrich the state coffers by an additional Rs.2100 Cr.

The Government is also going ahead with its plans of imposing additional taxes to the tune of Rs.6146 Cr in the near future.

Not surprisingly, the state government continues to increase its share of VAT from the ever increasing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas silently let alone think of finding ways to reduce the burden on common man.

The hiking of taxes on various items began in 2010 after Rosaiah took over as the CM and is continuing even today in the Kirankumar Reddy regime. 

(Updated on Oct 09,2012)