No GST on boulders shipped from State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 11 2018:
No GST has been charged on train loads of boulders being shipped away by two contractors based in Assam through Jiribam.
With the implementation of GST all over the country including Manipur since July 1 last year, taxes are imposed on all trade items.
But GST applicable to forest produces is not imposed on such items being shipped away from the State through Jiribam, informed a source.
After the State Environment and Impact Assessment Authority granted stone quarrying permission in 2013-14, two Assam-based contractors have been sending away truck loads of boulders from Makru and Nung Dolan areas with due permission of the Forest Department.
Boulders quarried from the State are sent to Tripura and Silchar, said the source.
With the DDO of Jiribam DFO yet to get PAN, GST registration is still pending.
As such, the DFO is unable to impose GST on boulders exported through Jiribam.
There were some cases where the contractors/transporters were made to pay GST after much persuasion, said the source.
But information about GST collection in these isolated cases could not be uploaded on the relevant website.
Nonetheless, the Forest Department has given its permission to take away 5000 cubic metres of boulders/stones and a royalty 50 per cent higher than the local rate is imposed on shipping away boulders from the State.
The royalty thus earned is accrued to the State exchequer.
Other forest produces exported through Jiribam include bamboo, broom plants, cane and Agar and the department was able to earn around Rs 10 lakh as royalty imposed on transportation of bamboo away from the State, added the source.