Predicting that revenue collection would go up in the coming months, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that no new tax would be imposed in the state to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis as the Uttar Pradesh government had charted out an elaborate programme for revival of economy through speedy industrial development.
Talking to a select group of reporters through virtual conferencing here on Sunday, the chief minister said that revenue collection in UP for the month of May was better compared to previous months because the state had opened up industrial and construction activities with gradual relaxation after every extension of lockdown.
“This is time to ensure we provide additional relief to the people. Therefore, the state has decided not to impose additional tax,” Yogi said.
On May 6, the UP government had increased value added tax (VAT) on fuel by imposing additional tax on petrol at the rate of Rs 2 per litre, and on diesel at he rate of Re 1 per.
“Many economic activities are likely to improve. The MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector will prove to be the job and money spinner for the state. We have schemes that will come up at the local level. Our migrant workers will prove to be an asset for us. They built fortunes of for other states and now they have got an opportunity to write a golden chapter for Uttar Pradesh,” Yogi said.
When asked how the state, which already is grappling with unemployment, can accommodate such a big work force, the chief minister said the Investors’ Summit of 2018 followed by two groundbreaking ceremonies had brought investments of around Rs 3 lakh crore in UP.
“Many companies have started production and this working style has carved out a niche for us and the word is spreading very fast,” he said.
Yogi said many companies were willing to re-locate from China and for them Uttar Pradesh was a dream destination. A German company has already decided to come to UP. Many more companies will set up units in the state. A committee of ministers has been formed. We have set up separate desks for US, Korea and Japan. We are talking with the companies. We are looking at their requirements and trying to provide them the best facilities,” the chief minister said.
“We are committed to changing this crisis into an opportunity. If we are able to do so, we will open the doors of opportunity for our migrants who have returned and unemployed people of the state,” he said.
Yogi, however, took a jibe at the opposition parties for starting a campaign against the government. “There is no doubt that the number of coronavirus positive cases has gone up. But the number of testing too has increased. Now, 10,000 tests are being done per day. By June 15, we will conduct 15,000 tests per day and by June 30, 20,000 tests daily,” the chief minister said, adding that 2.72 lakh tests had so far been done in the state.
“This is a global fight against a virus, not against a political party. But it is unfortunate that some parties have started a negative campaign. People who do politics through twitter should have come out of their houses and helped poor. What is more unfortunate is that a political party which asked for fuel price and money to transport UP students from Kota to UP is now giving us sermons,” he said.
Voicing concern over coronavirus explosion during unlock 1,0 which will start from Monday, the chief  minister said that mass gathering need to be stopped. “We need to restrict social gatherings. Religious places will open up after June 8 but we should take extra care of elderly persons, small children and pregnant women,” he said.
Yogi also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for completing one year of his 2.0 rule. He said India had taken a big stride towards prosperity and self-reliance under Modi regime.