Slight increase in Entertainment Duty target despite cable TV digitisation

Despite digitisation of cable TV, State

raises revenue target by Rs 30 cr only

* Some feel that the target is too low considering tremendous rise in number of cable TV connections reported, while others feel target revision is ‘realistic’
* While Mumbai’s target has been raised by Rs 1 crore only, that of Nagpur has been increased by Rs 1.75 crore

By Kartik Lokhande
Prior to digitisation of cable television, there was an occasion when target for revision of entertainment duty collection for Nagpur Division alone was revised by Rs 13 crore in a year. In the first year after digitisation of cable TV, however, Nagpur Division’s target has been revised by Rs 1.75 crore only. Same is the case with other major cities in Maharashtra that saw digitisation of cable TV.

The Hitavada CityLine, June 14, 2013

Prior to digitisation of cable TV or installation of set top boxes (STBs), number of cable TV connections in Nagpur district were 88,000 only. The target for collection of entertainment duty in 2012-13 given to district administration was Rs 13 crore. By the end of the financial year, the administration could collect entertainment duty of Rs 14.0977 crore, thus exceeding the target. But, the collection included entertainment duty from Nagpur urban as well as rural areas.
Interestingly, March 31, 2013, was also the deadline for installation of STBs. After expiry of deadline, number of STBs installed were 3.34 lakh! In effect, there was over three times rise in number of cable TV connections reported earlier. Considering this, one can expect revenue from entertainment duty to go up. However, Maharashtra Government has increased the target marginally to Rs 14 crore for Nagpur district as a whole (including urban and rural areas). Compared to revenue collection of Rs 14.0977 crore in 2012-13, the target for entertainment duty collection for 2013-14 is actually Rs 9,77,000 lesser!
But then, Nagpur is not the only case. In fact, for the entire state also, there has been marginal increase in target for entertainment duty collection. In 2012-13, the revenue target in this respect was Rs 564.03 crore. As against this, actual collection of the duty was Rs 599.4894 crore. Compared to this, the target for 2013-14 is only Rs 595.26 crore. In simple terms, the target has been scaled down compared to actual collection last year. According to sources, target should have been higher considering rise in number of cable TV connections reported.
“It appears that the Government is expecting dip in entertainment duty collection despite rise in reporting of number of cable TV connections,” said an official from Mumbai. However, he said, the targets have been set at this level considering the ‘pressure’ reported by District Collectors across the State.
Another officer pointed out that revenue collection target for Mumbai was raised by only Rs 1 crore while that of Nagpur was increased by Rs 1.75 crore. “How is it possible? Mumbai, undoubtedly, has more cable TV connections than Nagpur. Still, its revenue target is increased only marginally. Scaling down of targets is nothing but a ploy to hide irregularities in digitisation of cable TV especially in Mumbai and Pune,” said the officer. According to him, if targets would have been revised considering increase in number of cable TV connections post-digitisation, State would have got an additional revenue of at least around Rs 1,200 crore.
Meanwhile, another source in Revenue Department said that the target set was ‘realistic’. Previously, he said, targets were set without considering ground realities. This time, he added, a wise counsel appears to have prevailed while fixing the target for entertainment duty collection. However, he said, the raised targets for Mumbai Suburbs and Pune were misleading. Mumbai Suburbs included Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali, and Mira-Bhayander. Similarly, Pune included Pimpri-Chinchwad. Thus, the marginal raise of Rs 1 crore in case of Mumbai Suburbs was not in proportion to increase in cable TV connections. Similar was the case of Pune.
It remains to be seen if revised targets are surpassed once again. If yes, to what extent are targets exceeded, will be an interesting observation to make at the end of this financial year.

Entertainment duty collection and target for major cities
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
City                      Duty collection             Target for
                             in 2012-13                     2013-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mumbai               Rs 88.0994 cr               Rs 89.00 cr
Mumbai Suburbs Rs 149.2304 cr             Rs 150.00 cr
Thane                   Rs 94.1989 cr               Rs 95.00 cr
Pune                     Rs 110.7566 cr             Rs 112.00 cr
Jalgaon                Rs 7.5973 cr                 Rs 6.92 cr
Solapur                Rs 9.6648 cr                 Rs 9.67 cr
Nashik                 Rs 17.4904 cr               Rs 17.46 cr
Aurangabad        Rs 16.4443 cr                Rs 13.00 cr
Amravati             Rs 4.2986 cr                  Rs 5.00 cr
Nagpur                Rs 14.0977 cr                Rs 14.00 cr
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chanda boy Dr Vipin Itankar is UPSC topper in State

Image
12-06-14 * Efficiency and effectiveness are the keywords for the topper * Nagpur lads Aawesh Titarmare, Arpit Gudadhe, and Ankur Meshram also bring laurels to the region in UPSC examination results By Kartik Lokhande  “I am blessed. Vipin is extremely hard-working, dedicated and a confident guy I have ever met in my life. He was always at top since college days. I was confident that he would be in top ten in the UPSC examination as well.” (Centre) Dr Vipin Itankar, who secured 14th rank nationally and topped Maharashtra in UPSC Civil Services Examination-2013 results, celebrating with his family members in Chandigarh on Thursday. This is how Dr Shalini, wife of Dr Vipin Vithoba Itankar, reacted on learning that Vipin had emerged as the Maharashtra topper in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over telephone from Chandigarh, where Vipin and Shalini work in Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, both exp...
Read more

Hinganghat: Here rests the great surveyor of India...

Image
  By Kartik Lokhande  Often, the work of explorers lives on but they get buried in the history. This is exactly what has happened in case of Lt Col William Lambton. The man credited with initiating one of the greatest scientific activities in the world -- The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India -- lays buried at a place now known as ‘Kala Gota’ amid a crowded locality behind Bus Stand in the town of Hinganghat in Wardha district. Sadly, the memorial of this great surveyor, whose work led to measuring the highest point on Earth 50 years later, has become a victim of neglect. And, surprisingly, not many know about it and the great significance of Hinganghat in the landmark survey.  Lambton Memorial, known locally as 'Kala Gota' in Hinganghat. (Pic: Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col William Lambton The benchmark stone of Great Trigonometrical Survey, in the courtyard of a house behind Bus Stand in Hinganghat. (Pic by Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col Will...
Read more

Eknath Ranade, the man with ‘Rock’ solid determination

* November 2015 marks the culmination of birth centenary celebrations of Eknath Ranade, a son of Vidarbha who made it the cause of his life to realise the dream of Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari By Kartik Lokhande  It was 1962, a year that had stirred the atmosphere in the country owing to several factors including a war with China. In January 1963, India was to celebrate the birth centenary of Swami Vivekananda. In down south, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, tension was in the air over Swami Vivekananda’s memorial. There were attempts by some to claim the Rock off the shores of Tamil Nadu where Vivekananda meditated. A firm leadership is required to navigate through little storms in the journey towards realisation of a goal. Eknath Ranade, a man born in village Timtala in Amravati district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, was destined to be that firm leader as far as Swami Vivekananda’s memorial at Kanyakumari. Born on November 19, 1914, Eknath Ranade was the ...
Read more