Amaravati, July 11 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed officials to make the state a role model in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections by implementing strict anti-evasion measures.
Chairing a coordination meeting with Central and State GST officials at his camp office, Naidu emphasised "the use of data analytics to curb tax evasion and boost revenue."
"Efficient tax collection contributes to national wealth, which should be used for public welfare and development," he said in an official release.
Stressing the need for coordination between Central and State GST departments, Naidu called for a competitive action plan to match or exceed the performance of neighbouring states.
He suggested using indicators such as electricity consumption to detect tax evasion and instructed officials to eliminate all avenues for tax fraud.
Naidu also announced that all departmental data will be integrated into a centralised “data lake” for real-time analysis and sharing with Central GST authorities.
Noting that Andhra Pradesh ranks fourth nationally in attracting investments, Naidu said cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati should be developed into economic hubs on par with Hyderabad.
State GST officials informed the Chief Minister that collections in the state have risen by 3.4 percent. They added that upcoming GST tribunals in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada will help expedite dispute resolution.
Meanwhile, Central GST officials requested the allocation of five acres of land in Amaravati for the construction of a zonal office and residential quarters.