While meeting the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who came to take part in a programme organised at lBS administrative academy in Mussoorie on Friday, the State Finance Minister Prakash Pant appealed to the Union Minister to increase the GST registration turnover limit from the present Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. He reportedly pointed out the discrepancy regarding the limit existing between Uttarakhand and some other states. Notably, while the GST registration turnover limit is Rs 20 lakh for the traders based in most of the states the limit is half for those based in the Himalayan state, something that keeps the traders simmering in discontent, post the July 1 rollout of the new indirect tax regime .
Union finance minister reportedly asked Pant to present the matter during the GST council meeting. As per the system put into place, the GST council is the competent authority to decide things related to the execution of GST. However, it is the prerogative of the ministers of the states to decide the matters to be raised during the GST council.
Pant apprised Jaitley of the steps being taken by the state government to increase the volume of tax collection along with those meant to increase the income of the people.
After addressing the IAS trainees and before returning to Delhi, the Union Minister talked to the State’s Finance Minister at Jollygrant airport during which Pant informed him of the growing resentment among the traders based in the state regarding the GST registration turnover amount standing at Rs 10 lakh. At the same time, he also appraised Jaitley of the steps the state government is taking to successfully execute the GST regime. He said that the tax collection department has been asked to deal leniently with the traders with many of them remaining unaware of the nuances of the new regime. He also informed the Union Minister of the common service centre staffers being trained on how the monthly returns are to be filed under GST.
Pant also apprised the Finance Minister of the serious efforts being made by the Government in developing the infrastructure. The matter related to the extension in air service in the state also figured during the talks. Pant said that infrastructure of Jollygrant, Pantnagar, Nainisaini (Pithoragarh), Gaucher (Chamoli) and Chinyalisaur (Uttarkashi) airports are being expanded. Besides, the state government is trying hard to broaden the state’s air links with other states. The status of the foreign aided projects also came up during the meeting.