Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : CM of Punjab Amarinder Singh on October 4, 2018, met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi. The Chief Minister demanded expediting pending payments on four specific issues namely ID Cess and Purchase Tax on Wheat (2017-18) stocks in hand as on June 30, 2017, Subsidy under National Food Security Act for 2nd and 3rd quarter 2018, Custody and Maintenance charge for Paddy and Custody and Maintenance charges for wheat stored in Cover and Plinth.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan provided a point by point reply to the Punjab Chief Minister while assuring him of all possible help in this regard. Regarding the specific demand for ID Cess and Purchase Tax on Wheat (RMS 2017-18) stocks in hand as on June 30, 2017, Rs 708.26 crore is the admissible amount for Punjab of which 50% of the amount has already been paid while payment of balance 50% amount for Purchase Tax & ID Cess has been processed and is under examination.
Regarding the demand for Subsidy under National Food Security Act for 2nd and 3rd quarter 2018, Paswan said that due to issues with the submitted advance subsidy claim provided by the State to the Ministry, the claims could not be processed and the State had been advised to submit the bills in proper format, according to a PIB release. State has submitted rectified claims on October 4, 2018, which will be examined.
Regarding the Custody & Maintenance Charges for Paddy, Frame Chech Sequence (FCS) up to KMS 2013-14 years have been issued by the Department. For future cases, State Government may present their claims during the time of finalisation. FCI has also released Rs 300 crore based on data/information submitted by State Government/Agencies as per FCS. The clarification sought by FCI is being examined.
The Punjab Chief Minister also requested for reimbursement of Custody and Maintenance Charges on the storage of wheat in open plinths in Punjab from the year 2007-08 onwards. Paswan stated that this matter was examined in the Department and since State Government of Punjab could not produce any relevant documents/ supporting documents at the time of finalisation of Cost Sheet, the Department of Food based on available documents finalised the Cost Sheet. Also, a view has been taken that all the closed issues prior to 2014-15 need not be reopened and there should not be any retrospective review of the decisions already taken.