Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 6: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje took part in a GST review meeting with self-employed and businessman at Diana Hotel on Thursday, October 5. The meeting was followed by an interactive session.

Mithun R Hegde, owner of a bar and restaurant said, “They are imposing 18 per cent tax on customers after the implementation of GST. It is quite heavy for them to pay. Tax should be reduced to 12 per cent for air-conditioned bar and restaurants.”

Andaru Deviprasad, a private LPG cooking gas dealer opined and said, “The government has imposed 5 per cent tax on gas cylinder. Earlier it was 1 per cent. There are seven private gas dealers in the state. They have been imposed 18 per cent tax.” He urged at the session that the government should make GST rate equal for both private and government LPG dealers.

When Sulochana spoke about GST being imposed on fixed deposit, economic prakoshta member Shantharam Shetty clarified that, there was no connection between bank and GST.”

A member of Karnataka Coastal Ice Plant and Cold Storage Owners' Association requested Shobha and said, “You should recommend the finance ministry to accept tax on ice which is used for fisheries purpose. Earlier, there was no tax, but now the government has imposed 5 per cent, which is too high for fishermen and dealers.”

Pradeep Hebbar, an agricultural machine seller said, “Most of the equipments are imported from other countries. Farmers never think twice before purchasing the equipments. The tax on these equipments has been increased from 18% to 28%.”

Ashok, a member of Printing and Press Association demanded to exempt manufacturing and said, “There is a need to bring amendment in imposing GST on religious discoursing places like temples and pilgrim centers, which are not really income generating sectors. I insist the MP to recommend the ministry not to impose tax on religious places.”

Satish Kunder of Malpe Fishermen Association said, “Fisheries is not a profitable business. Fishermen are struggling. About 5-6 fishermen lost their lives due to various reasons. There was no tax since 1981 on fish net, wire, ropes, ice, damber and so on. Tax on ice, fresh fish and fisheries equipments should be expempted.”

Ranjan Kalkur, director of Kalkura Builders complained that there was problem in issuing E-Way Bill. The government should rectify the problem at the earliest, he said.

After hearing various opinions, MP Shobha said that she will speak to the union finance ministry to address the problem. “Public was panicking about VAT earlier. The same thing has happened with GST. The central government would like to implement uniform tax system across the country.”

“The finance ministry has instructed to collect feedback on GST from the public. Considering public opinion, they will make amendments in GST. The feedback points will be added while forming the next budget,” she added.

Narasimha Nayak, a charted accountant said in the keynote address, “People are now panicking about GST. There is need to create a separate tax on goods and service sectors.”

District BJP president Mattaru Ratnakara Hegde, Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, Uday Kumar Shetty, Inna Uday Kumar and others were present.