Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced a 6% increase in commercial tax collections for the financial year 2024–25, compared to the previous year. Despite the positive trend, he acknowledged a shortfall in March revenue expectations from CST and VAT, with collections totaling ₹500 crore against a projected ₹600 crore.
Chairing the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Financial Resource Mobilization at the Secretariat on Monday, Bhatti emphasized the need for strategic initiatives to improve revenue streams—particularly in the real estate and land sectors. While the sale of flats and apartments has shown encouraging growth, he noted that agricultural lands and vacant plots have not met anticipated sales levels.
To address this, Bhatti instructed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to expedite the issuance of construction permits, which would accelerate urban development and, in turn, boost state revenues.
The meeting was attended by key ministers including Uttam Kumar Reddy, D. Sridhar Babu, Jupally Krishna Rao, Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, and senior officials from various departments. The ministers reviewed progress on revenue targets and outlined strategies for improvement.
“All departments must adopt a clear, data-driven approach to achieve their respective revenue goals,” Bhatti stressed. He urged departments to leverage technology, conduct comprehensive audits, and identify untapped revenue streams.
Key directives from the meeting included:
- Excise Department to pinpoint areas with declining revenues and implement corrective measures.
- Sand mining operations in tribal areas to be routed through local societies, ensuring both transparency and community income.
- Tribal Welfare Department to enroll eligible beneficiaries into cooperative societies for direct income generation.
- Protection of valuable government lands in district headquarters to be prioritized to prevent encroachment and misuse.
The meeting underscored the state’s commitment to fiscal discipline and innovative governance as it seeks to strengthen its economic foundation while promoting equitable growth.
