CUTTACK: Months after the Centre agreed to form a tribunal to arbitrate in the Mahanadi water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday said the two states should try to resolve differences 'amicably, through discussion'.Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to lay the foundation of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal building in Cuttack, Prasad said: Isko vivaad ka vishay nahi banana chahiye. Achha hoga dono rajyo ke bich prem se faisla ho jaye. Agar nahi hoga to kanoon ki prakriya follow ki jayegi. (The dispute should not become a bone of contention between states. It would be better if they reach a consensus. If that is not possible, we will take appropriate legal action).Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday expressed grave concern over rampant income tax evasion in the country.Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the new building of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) here, Prasad said in 2015-16, only 3.7 crore persons in the country with a population of 130 crore, had filed their tax returns. He added that the number of people showing their income to be above Rs 50 lakh is only 1.72 lakh."The figures are alarming. Just 1.72 lakh people in the country are showing their income to be above Rs 50 lakh. Is it fair? Obviously not," said the law minister. He added that tax planning and tax management is all good, but tax avoidance is not. "We are an under taxed country. There is need for tax to be paid in a fair and reasonable manner," said Prasad, adding that if people pay their taxes, more development will take place in the education, health and infrastructure sector.Expressing concern over the matter, Prasad advised the tax lawyers to become facilitators of tax compliance. There is a very thin line between tax planning and tax avoidance. The tax lawyers should guide and ensure proper compliance of taxes, he said.On the occasion, the Union minister said reforms taken by his government like demonetization and GST, has paid well and India has jumped 53 ranks in the Paying Taxes category, and that things are improving. Citing a World Bank report, Prasad said in the last one year India's rank has improved from 172 to 118 on the Paying Taxes front due to the initiatives taken by the BJP-led government. He also asked the high courts to dispose of 10- year-old cases on a mission mode basis.Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "There is an urgent need to attract investment in Odisha and eatern India to ensure the growth of the country." Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra suggested that the new building of ITAT be completed on time so that people can avail of its benefits.State law minister Pratap Jena sought the Union law minister and CJI's help to enhance the strength of judges in Orissa high court and fill the vacant posts. The sanctioned strength of judges in Orissa high court is 27, but it has only 17 judges at present.

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