NEW DELHI, July 6 - Under attack, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed that the burden of one per cent hike in VAT would not impact the people even as the State would garner an extra revenue of Rs 700 crore from commercial ventures.
Amidst a raging controversy over the imposition of the additional surcharges, Sarma, who met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, countering the claims that people would be burdened by the additional VAT, said that the State would stand to gain an extra Rs 700 crore gathered from profits of companies.
Referring to his meeting with Jaitley, Sarma told newsmen that from this year itself, the State Government would get additional royalty on oil. He quoted Jaitley as assuring that when the Centre releases the oil royalty, Assam would get Rs 2,000 crore.
Sarma further said that Assam is hoping for a favourable verdict from Supreme Court, when the case on oil royalty is going to come up for hearing on July 22.
He also disclosed that the State Government employees would get salaries at par with the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission from next year.
According to an estimate of the State Pay Commission, the State Government would require an additional Rs 5,000 crore. The State Government plans to generate the additional revenue from the enhanced VAT and oil royalty.
Meanwhile, Sarma, who is also the State Education Minister, said that TET appointments in Assam would start very soon.
