Tripura’s rubber industry can become a major source of government revenue if tax compliance improves and the sector moves into processing, manufacturing and value addition, Kul Prakash Singh, chief commissioner of the Guwahati Zone of CGST and Customs, said on Wednesday in Agartala.
During his visit, Singh reviewed tax administration and discussed trade and revenue opportunities. He said Tripura, one of India’s major rubber-producing regions, still has significant untapped potential across the rubber supply chain. The state is the country’s second-largest producer of natural latex, and a large share of its rural population depends on rubber for a livelihood.
Government infrastructure projects currently account for a substantial share of Tripura’s GST revenue. Singh said bringing more rubber growers, traders and industrial units into the formal tax system could turn the sector into a key driver of the state’s economic growth. “The potential is vast,” he said, adding that officials are working with the Rubber Board and other stakeholders to improve information-sharing and tax compliance without disrupting legitimate businesses.
Singh, who took charge of the Guwahati Zone in April, was in Tripura as part of a tour of the seven northeastern states under his jurisdiction. The visit was intended to assess local economic conditions, meet businesses and review departmental work.
He said that since GST was introduced, the department has carried out reforms to improve taxpayer services and administrative efficiency. Enforcement, he added, is focused on revenue recovery rather than punitive action. Recent changes have also raised the threshold for prosecution, helping balance enforcement with compliance.
Singh also pointed to the challenges created by Tripura’s long border with Bangladesh, difficult terrain, forests and river routes. Multiple agencies are conducting joint operations to curb the smuggling of narcotics, gold, cattle and other valuable goods. Authorities have strengthened surveillance and intelligence-sharing to disrupt illegal trade routes, he said.
He urged traders to meet their tax obligations and contribute to the state’s development. Compliant businesses should operate without fear, he said, assuring them that senior officers are available to resolve unnecessary difficulties. The visit focused on two priorities: expanding legitimate industries such as rubber, and stepping up action against tax evasion and cross-border smuggling.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/rubber-sector-can-become-major-revenue-driver-for-tripura-cgst-chief/articleshow/135549705.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-11-05 00:01:00
