Look into problems of trade and industry: PPBM state secretary Mohinder Aggarwal to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh 

Ludhiana: Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM) state secretary Mohinder Aggarwal has urged upon the Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to look into the problems being faced by trade and industry of Punjab.

He has also given some suggestions to the chief minister in the larger interest of the trade and industry of the state particularly in view of the existing coronavirus pandemic. 

He added that the state’s trade and industry is getting badly affected due to the pandemic.  

In a statement here today, Aggarwal said that they totally disagree with the reports of sub-committee headed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, submitted to Punjab Government as far as the professional tax is concerned. He added, “We already raised the voice against the professional tax (Rs.2400 per year) being imposed by the Punjab Government demanding that it should be abolished as it is an additional burden on the traders because it will not boost the economy of the state.”

He revealed that there are about 12 lakh IT assessees in the state and it was targeted to collect Rs.150 revenue which has not been achieved so far even after passage of about two years. He pointed that the assesses are getting harassed and it is not good for economy in the national perspective. He feared that people would avoid of becoming assesses in the future, resulting to which it will ultimately hit economy of the country.     

Further, he said that the Punjab Government may continue giving power subsidy to small farmers having agricultural land upto 10 acres, however, the rich farmers having agricultural land above 10 acres should be given power supply at a fixed rate of Rs. 5 per unit inclusive of all charges so that the rich farmers should also make their contribution in the economy of the state. He pointed out that Capt Amarinder Singh himself has appealed twice to big farmers to voluntarily give up their power subsidy. Thus, he has indirectly supported to the demand of the PPBM, he said, adding that however, it has been observed that nobody gives up subsidy on his own. He added there may be some political compulsions for the Punjab CM, otherwise he would have made it compulsory for big farmers to voluntarily give up their power subsidy by now. 

He demanded that the Punjab Government should immediately release pending VAT refunds (VAT regime) and SGST refunds (GST regime). 

He suggested that there is need to initiate the deemed assessment for the cases from FY2013 till 30/06/2017 where the assessees have not yet filed the statutory forms under Central Sales Tax Act (due to non-availability of forms). Different state governments have been playing this novel tool to end the huge pendency of the cases. It is therefore suggested that 1% tax on the amount of non-availability of the C-forms may be charged from the assessees and deemed assessment should be done.

He pointed out that “Beoparis” (traders) are facing huge problems by submitting property tax online (Digital Mode) as the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana has not linked the UID Number (Unique Identification Number) with their properties as without UID Number the payments are not being made. Thus, huge revenue loss to the Local Government and unnecessary harassment to the traders. Traders are also facing problems in the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana for transfer of properties in their names, he said, adding that the same problem is with the remittance of water and sewerage bills. 

He added that traders are also facing huge harassment and problems during sale and purchase of properties in Tehsildar Office as well as in the Revenue Department which leads to the red tapism. 

He suggested that the state government should raise the voice of traders regarding the problem of no provision of Revised Return (GST regime) in the GST Council meetings.