The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today had a detailed meeting with various groups of industry and trade and removed their misconceptions about the new transparent revenue collection method of E-trip for six items of cotton, sarson, vegetable oils, iron and steel, plywood and yarn.Badal said that cotton traders have welcomed the e-trip system and there were no complaints of traders of Sarson, vegetable oil. The apprehensions of iron and steel industry especially of casting and forging industry has been removed and negotiations were on with plywood industry for lump-sump system. Hosiery, nut-bolt and fastner industry has agreed for e-trip through transporters and there was no problem for the e-trip system in pipes, iron and steel and rice industry.
Speaking to the representatives of the Industry Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP Government was most industry and trade friendly government that has taken series of initiatives to introduce transparency in the collection of revenue, check harassment of businessmen besides computerizing the whole system to reduce the interaction between taxpayer and collection agency. The Plywood Industry Association assuring total support to the Punjab Government said that presently on an average they were paying average tax of Rs. 2 lakh per press and they were ready to pay Rs. 9 lakh tax per press if e-trip system from plywood industry was withdrawn. The Deputy CM asked Excise and Taxation Commissioner to study the proposal and come out with viable solutions.
Allaying the apprehension of harassment of small industrialists, Badal agreed to the demand of knitwear club and nut-bolt industry that transport of hosiery goods and nut-bolts within the parameters of the city would not be checked for e-trip and once the goods leaves outside the city they would be liable to be checked for e-trip. Removing the apprehension of Casting and Forging Industry, Mr. Badal clarified that e-trip was not applicable to casting and forging industry. Badal also asked excise and taxation commissioner to study the proposal of Hosiery industry to charge lump-sump tax on per box or per sack to break the patty mafia operating in the state. He asked the commissioner to come out with a proposal under which hosiery traders would be able to deposit tax on cash counters established at various check points and at ICC Railway Station Ludhiana.