Photo Courtesy: nenow
Agartala: Tripura sits on a gold mine of untapped tax revenue. A top official says the state must look at its rubber sector to drive growth. Kul Prakash Singh oversees customs and GST for seven states in the North East. He visited Agartala on Tuesday to push for better tax compliance. Tripura currently ranks as the second-largest rubber producer in India, trailing only Kerala. The department is working with the Rubber Board and local traders to swap data and stop revenue leaks.
Singh praised the work of state commissioner Kundan Yadav. Yadav implemented new, trade-friendly rules to streamline operations. Singh told reporters, "I am satisfied with the progress made so far." Much of Tripura's current GST intake comes from government works contracts like irrigation and public infrastructure. Officials now want to capture the value from rubber manufacturing and dealership trades.
The tax man is changing tactics. The government moved away from immediate arrests for tax dodgers. Prosecution now only starts if evasion hits the 5 crore rupee mark, up from the old 1 crore threshold. Officers must issue a show-cause notice before any legal action begins. Courts will handle the final sentencing.
Geography complicates the job. Tripura shares a porous border with Bangladesh. Smugglers try to move gold, cattle, narcotics, and goods like cumin seeds and areca nuts through the dense forests and rivers. Singh urged business owners to pay up and play by the rules. He promised that traders can report any officer harassment directly to him or the commissioner. The timeline for a new cross-border trade deal remains unclear, as the Union government continues talks with Bangladesh.
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