Monday, December 20 2004 19:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government is "bang on target" on income tax, corporation tax and customs duty collections but behind on the excise duty front, Finance Minister P Chidambaram informed Lok Sabha today (Dec 20, 2004).

"On income tax, corporation tax and customs duties, we are bang on target. In fact, we are slightly above (the targets)," he said while intervening in a discussion on the supplementary demands for grants for 2004-05.

On excise duty "we are behind", he said adding, "I am confident we can make up."

Participating in the debate, Samik Lahiri, CPM (Communist Party Marxist), questioned Government's decision to bring down subsidy on LPG and diesel, badly affecting common man and the middle class who have to bear the additional burden.

He asked the Government to reconsider its decision on this front.

The CPM member wanted the Government to spell out its plan of action to recover huge arrears in customs and excise duties.

Ramjilal Suman, Samajwadi Party (SP), demanded that action be taken against large industrial houses who had to pay dues to the tune of thousands of crores.

He deprecated the Government for phasing out subsidy on food grains.

Suresh Prabhu, Shiv Sena, said NRIs, who were sending huge remittances, were not getting good incentives.