Amravati Divn gets higher revenue collection target than Nagpur Divn
20 Jul 2020 07:06:35
By Kartik Lokhande :
In an indication that State’s economic activity is coming back on track amid COVID-19 crisis, Revenue and Forest Department of Maharashtra has set revenue targets for various departments as part of annual exercise. However, for Vidarbha region, for the first time in past few years, Amravati Division has been given higher target for revenue collection than that set for Nagpur Division.
The department has recently issued a communique to all the Divisional Commissioners and Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records. As per the said communication, the total target for collection of land revenue and revenue from minor minerals for the year 2020-21 is set at Rs 7,595.64 crore for the entire State. Of the total target, Rs 216.66 crore is the target set for Settlement Commissioner and Director of Land Records, and remaining target is for the six administrative divisions. Surprisingly, in Vidarbha region, Amravati Division has got the higher target for revenue collection than that for Nagpur Division. Amravati Division is expected to collect land revenue of Rs 127.60 crore and minor minerals revenue of Rs 655.50 crore.
Thus, Amravati Division, which has five districts, has been given total target of Rs 783.10 crore. Nagpur Division, which has six districts, has been given target of Rs 660.09 crore. This target includes Rs 241.59 crore from land revenue and Rs 418.50 crore from minor minerals revenue. There is difference of Rs 123.01 crore between the targets set for Amravati Division and Nagpur Division. Interestingly, in case of land revenue, Nagpur Division’s target is higher by Rs 113.99 crore than that for Amravati Division. However, in case of revenue from minor minerals, the target of Amravati Division is higher by Rs 237 crore than that for Nagpur Division.
This has somewhat surprised the officials familiar with the process of revenue collection. Sources said that usually Nagpur Division gets the higher target for revenue collection, mainly on account revenue from minor minerals. Even the official data for the revenue collection targets for the past few years makes it clear. An official, preferring to be unnamed, said that it was because of adverse impact of COVID-19 on various sectors. But, he, too, was perplexed at increase of over Rs 390 crore in target for Amravati Division. For, he wondered, if there was adverse impact of COVID-19, it should be the adverse for all the divisions, albeit in varying degree. Another official hinted at possibility of ‘some error’ on part of Revenue and Forest Department in Mantralaya in setting the targets, and hoped that the error would be rectified in subsequent communication.