Date:26/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/26/stories/2005022602771900.htm

Back `Not much progress on infrastructure front'

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Feb. 25

MR J.M. Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner, has wondered where does huge amounts of money being collected by the Customs and Central Excise really go.

Addressing the staff of Central Excise at the annual day fete here, he said the employees of the department work hard to collect revenues. But where did that money go, he wondered.

"We talk of a growing economy, international airports and roads. We have seen 50 years of planned economy," he said. But the country failed in developing proper infrastructure facilities accessible for all.

Referring to the complaints from certain quarters, he said the Service Tax rate was a bit high. He suggested that the rate should be low and the base wider. "A lot of people are not happy with Service Tax," he said.

He called for rationalisation and simplification of the tax structure. Blaming the politicians for the poor state of affairs, he said the efforts to cut down on the size of the Government did not take off well. The Government had become thoroughly inefficient and utterly corrupt.

He felt that the country didn't see any able administrator after the demise of Sardar Vallabai Patel and C. Rajagopalachari. Expressing concern over growing militancy in various parts of the country, Mr Lyngdoh said the unity of the country was at stake.