Despite good revenue prospects, the Forest and Energy departments are lagging behind in the race to increase incomeThe government, which is putting full emphasis on increasing income resources in the state, is not getting the support of some of its own departments. These include Forest, Energy and Irrigation departments. The income from forest products is not increasing, while there is a good possibility of revenue in it. Similarly, the contribution of the Energy Department in tax and non-tax revenue is not as per expectations. On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, an action plan has been sought from these departments to increase income. The government is increasing its resources of income to increase expenditure on development and capital works in the state. Good results have been seen in encouraging the concerned departments to increase tax and non-tax revenue.
Increase in income from tax revenue
In the year 2024-25, the income from tax revenue has increased to Rs 20,680 crore. This income has increased by seven percent as compared to the year 2023-24. Rs 9256 crore has been earned from SGST, Rs 2635 crore from stamp and registration fee, Rs 4310 crore from excise, Rs 1035 crore from mining.
Efforts to increase income from mining have borne fruit and more revenue than the target has come into the government’s account. Due to efforts to increase resources, the performance of all important departments has improved. These departments have crossed the set annual target or have succeeded in reaching it. Despite this, some departments have been lagging far behind, let alone reaching close to the target, for the last several years. Forest, Energy and Irrigation departments are prominent among these. The Forest Department has adequate resources in the state, but neither the available resources are being used properly, nor is the will to explore new possibilities being shown by the departments. The Forest Department fell 136 crores behind the target In the review meeting held in the first fortnight of this month, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given instructions to conduct regular review to increase revenue from forest, energy and water tax, so that the budget target can be achieved.
In the year 2024-25, the revenue target for the Forest Department was set at Rs 710 crore. Out of this, Rs 574 crore was received. Similarly, a target of Rs 550 crore in tax revenue and Rs 751 crore in non-tax revenue was set for the Energy Department.
