The national slowdown of economy is having an effect on the Haryana economy for the second year. The states collection of Value Added Tax declining by nine per cent during April, compared to the corresponding period last year.

What has saved the day for Haryana is the excise collection, which has shown a healthy growth of 7 per cent over the corresponding period last year, according to sources in the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department.

Registering negative growth for the second month in a row, the collection of VAT for April remained at a low of Rs 574 crore. In the corresponding period last year, the VAT collection was Rs 631 crore, according to the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department.

Talking to The Indian Express, Haryana Excise and Taxation Commissioner Apoorva Kumar Singh said the revenue collection in the state from tax had registered a negative growth rate of 3.11 per cent, which was disturbing.