The State Government has constituted a 10-member joint committee to study the disparities in Value Added Tax (VAT) rates levied on pulses, wheat and wheat products in comparison to other States.
Finance Department Special Secretary Biraj Kumar Das heads the committee as chairman and members of different departments and representatives of the Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Association (FAOTA) are its members. The committee would examine various problems affecting the functioning of flour and dal mills in the State, including purchase, sale and VAT paid thereon. Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat said the committee has been asked to submit its report within three months.
The committee would also test the per capita consumption of wheat and wheat products, pulses from 2012-13 to 2014-15, official sources revealed.