Kolkata, Jul 12 (IANS): The West Bengal government on Thursday increased, up to Rs 1 lakh, the threshold limit for the electronic-way or e-way bill in case of movement of goods within the state from existing limit of up to Rs 50,000.

The generation of e-way bill for an intra-state movement of goods was also exempted where such goods were being sent to job workers, said state Finance Minister Amit Mitra.

"The e-way bill in respect of movement of goods originating and terminating within the state (intra-state movement but without passing through any other state) would be required where the consignment value exceeds Rs 1 lakh. Such limit was up to Rs 50,000. In this regard, a notification was issued today (Thursday)," he said.

Usually, e-way bill would be required when the value of taxable consignment, along with the tax value, is more than Rs 50,000. The Central government had launched the e-way bill system from April 1 for moving goods worth over Rs 50,000 from one state to another and the same for intra or within the state movement was rolled out from April 15 in a phased manner.

Quoting the notification, Mitra also said: "Generation of e-way bill for an intra state movement of goods is exempted where such goods are being sent to a job worker for job work or are being sent from one job worker to another or are being returned to the principal after such job work and where such transportation is not for final delivery of the finished goods."

Addressing a programme of Bengal Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Traders Welfare Association, he said a nine lakh sq ft textile hub was being set up at Nangi in South 24 Parganas for facilitating garments' manufacturers and traders and a common facility centre would also be set up.

According to him, about 25,000-30,000 artisans and entrepreneurs including organised and unorganised have been working in the Metiabruz, a hub of garments and apparel manufacturing in the state and generating over 5 lakh jobs.

"In Metiabruz, 90 per cent small entrepreneurs and artisans are unorganised. We want to bring them in an organised set up so that they can fetch better margin and manufacture more exportable products. The common facility centre will house design, laboratory and other facilities so that manufacturers can avail that," Mitra added.

According to him, bank lending to MSMEs in the last year was Rs 44,000 crore, exceeding the target of Rs 38,000 crore in the state. "This year, the target has been set at Rs 50,000 crore," he added.