Srinagar, Apr 27: The new office complex of Excise and Taxation at Rambagh here, is facing grave civic problems like lack of safe drinking water, improper cleaning and seating arrangement for taxpayers.
 “The shifting of the department here has eased our problems but basic problems like drinking water and seating arrangement are troubling us a lot. I have been leaning against the wall here for two hours. There is no seating arrangement,” said a taxpayer, Showkat Asgar.
 According to officials, the department contributes Rs 4800 crore annually to the state exchequer. “Even after spending Rs 50 crore on the construction of the building, it sans basic amenities,” said an official wishing anonymity.
 He said not only civic problems but infrastructure in office too was minimal. “The department has almost 450 employees and the condition of their chambers is pathetic. Taxpayers as well as employees face the trouble due to the lack of these amenities,” the official added.
 “Bathrooms always remain grubby and there is no one to clean these. Sometimes they are locked and it causes lot of inconvenience to staff as well as the taxpayers,” he said.
 The five floor building, a marvelous-blend-of-modern-and-traditional-architecture-conceived-to-provide-all-the-Excise-and-Taxation-related-facilities-to-the-traders-and-busines-community-under one roof, has no canteen. “It is ridiculous that such a big complex is without a canteen,” an employee said.
 A group of taxpayers told Greater Kashmir that the find it very difficult to park their vehicles as the parking space is very small.
 At least 30938 dealers or taxpayers are registered in the Excise and Taxation department. Officials said they have collected a tentative amount of Rs 1025 crore so far in the current fiscal year. “Last year an amount of Rs 3500 crore was collected from shopkeepers, importers and contractors in the state,” they said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST