Gujarat Commercial Tax Commissioner, P D Vaghela has assured all stakeholders in Surat, the largest man-made fabric (MMF) sector to present the issues and demands related to GST before the Central government and the GST Council in order to find an amicable solution to these issues. Addressing a meeting of textile industry stakeholders at Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), Vaghela promised, “I have heard the problems and issues faced by power loom weavers, traders, embroidery unit owners and women doing embroidery handwork. The issues are genuine and the state government will seriously take up the issues with the Central government and the GST Council.
He said most issues related to GST come under the purview of the GST Council, however, the issues like inter-state e-way bill provision etc will be sorted out by the State government. Last week, social media was abuzz when the CMO tweeted in favour of Surat’s diamond industry after the GST Council reduced the GST rate on polished diamonds from 3 per cent to 0.25 per cent. The CM was lambasted on social media when the textile industry raised questions whether the government did not consider Surat as the textile city.
Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI) Chairman, Bharat Gandhi said, “The industry is getting assurances since the day GST was rolled out. I think the visit of Vaghela in the textile and embroidery units indicates that the State Government is serious in taking a stand at the GST Council to see that the issues related to the textile sector are addressed amicably.” Gandhi announced they had put up three demands, including refund of input tax credit, credit on opening stock and implementation of central government notification on increasing basic customs duty (BCD) on imported fabrics from China. Leader of power loom weaving sector Ashish Gujarati asserts, a single demand of input tax credit will solve 10 other issues pertaining to GST. Vaghela is of the opinion that the state government will have to give a stiff fight at the GST Council to press for the refund demand of the textile sector.
