TS seeks withdrawal of GST hike on textiles
The Hindu
KTR writes to Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal
Telangana government has urged the Centre to drop its plan to hike the GST on textiles and handlooms from 5 to 12% from January 1 because the sector is going through a tough phase due to the impact of pandemic.
In a letter to Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal, Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao observed that taxes were never levied on handlooms in the country’s history. The Centre’s move to impose 5% tax initially was strongly opposed by textiles and handlooms sector across the country. The latest decision to impose additional 7% cent GST on the handlooms would leave the sector crippled, he said.
Telangana produces world class handlooms and weavers are worried lot due to the Centre’s decision, he observed.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.