Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Sep 6: Various organizations and taxpayers of the twin coastal districts are mounting pressure on people's representatives to retain the office of the principal commissioner of income-tax (PCI-T) in Mangaluru itself.

The PCI-T office of Mangaluru has its own building. There are four lac I-T payers under its limits and Rs 3,300 crore tax is being collected annually. It has the distinction of being the second-highest tax collecting office in Karnataka. In addition, it also has a prestigious fishing port, medical educational institutions, nationalized banks and educational institutions of international fame under its limits. The PCI-T office of Mangaluru has all the eligibility and recognition that a PCI-T centre should have. However, now with its proposed merger with Goa I-T centre, the question everyone is asking is why the local political leaders are not doing enough to stop the move.

Speaking on the subject, union minister Sadananda Gowda said, "I will make an attempt to retain the PCI-T office in Mangaluru by meeting union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman soon. Around four lac taxpayers will face inconvenience if this PCI-T office is merged with Goa office."

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has sent an appeal letter to union finance minister on the issue. The letter says, "The issue of merger of PCI-T Mangaluru with Goa has caused unhappiness to the entrepreneurs and chartered accountants of coastal Karnataka. Mangaluru city is the second biggest city in Karnataka and has got all four kinds of mode of transport. It has got many prestigious educational institutions and has rich religious traditions. Moreover, it has given birth to many banks in the country. This city is the pride of our state and country. This PCI-T office is the link of 4.50 lac taxpayers and more than 2,000 professionals. Merging this office with other state is against the interest of the civilians of this city.

"The distance between Mangaluru and Panaji is 376 km. Only rail or road access is there to Panaji from Mangaluru. There is no direct flight service from Mangaluru to Panaji. There are no direct trains from Mangaluru to Panaji. The taxpayers or their representatives have to get down at Madgaon and reach Panaji which is at a distance of 36 km by taxi or bus. This required lots of time.

"In the budget of 2020, Vivad Se Vishwas scheme is introduced to resolve the tax-related issues. So in order to get the refund in various higher appeals, it would be convenient to get the money if the PCI-T office is retained in Mangaluru rather than merging with Panaji office."

Former MLA and Congres leader J R Lobo termed the merger of Mangaluru PCI-T office with Goa by the BJP government is the destruction of the economy of Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking at the press conference, Lobo said, "People representatives like Srinivas Mallya, T M A Pai, Janardhan Poojary, Oscar Fernandes, George Fernandes and Veerappa Moily have worked for the betterment of the district of Dakshina Kannada. However, the BJP government is shifting the PCI-T office, which was complimentary to the development of the city and district.

"If Dakshina Kannada district has to improve, the PCI-T office should be in Mangaluru only. Compared to Goa, Dakshina Kannada district is far ahead in terms of industry and business. Continuous injustice is meted out to the district of Dakshina Kannada by the union finance ministry. Commercial centres, which were nurtured by our elders, are completely destroyed by merging banks like Vijaya, Corporation and Syndicate with others.

"Mangaluru international airport is sold to Adani instead of developing it. The scheme of reducing the travel time between Mangaluru and Bengaluru through the tunnel, which was the brainchild of former minister Oscar Fernandes, is stalled. The promise of upgrading Mangaluru central railway station is turned hoax. So what is the contribution of BJP government, which is ruling in both centre and state, to the district of Dakshina Kannada?"

Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has vehemently opposed the merger of PCI-T office of Mangaluru with that of Panaji. An appeal in this regard is sent to Pramod Chandra M, president of Central Board of Direct Tax by KCCI.

President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Isaac Vas also appealed to the Minister to retain the office of PCI-T in Mangalore.

Mattaru Ratnakara Hegde, president of Coastal development authority has requested union minister D V Sadananda Gowda, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MP Shobha Karandlaje to retain the PCI-T office at Mangaluru itself.

Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI), Mangaluru chapter has also submitted an appeal to union minister Sadananda Gowda to retain the PCI-T office in Mangaluru itself. S S Nayak, president of Mangaluru branch of ICAI submitted the appeal to the minister.

CA S S Nayak, chairman of the Mangaluru branch of ICAI, cited that the shifting of PCIT office from Mangaluru to Goa would cause unnecessary hardships to the taxpayers. Mangaluru is the hub of many businesses, banks, educational institutions, hospitals and trusts, shifting the PCIT office will result in delays in many representations, approvals and other income tax procedures, Nayak stated.

CA Pradeep Jogi, chairman, Udupi branch of ICAI, secretary CA Lokesh, CA Sudesh Rai, CA Anantha Padmanabha, CA Abdur Rahman Musba and lady representative CA Yashashwini K Amin were present.

Union minister D V Sadananda said that this request was most appropriate and assured that he would approach Nirmala Sitharaman, union finance minister and sort the issue at the earliest.

The office of the Principal Commissioner (PCI-T), Mangaluru covers Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts comprising of about 5 lac taxpayers and the annual tax collections amount to about Rs 4,000 crore.