‘GST MOP-UP WILL TOUCH ~1 TRN/MTH’

HASMUKH ADHIA tells Dilasha Seth and Indivjal Dhasmana the system has perfectly stabilised now. He says bringing petroleum under GST is no solution to their high prices.

With GST roll out set to complete a year in a few days, Finance Secretary HASMUKH ADHIA tells Dilasha Seth and Indivjal Dhasmana that the system has stabilised now. Adhia, who played a critical role, in the rollout, says bringing petroleum under GST is no solution to their high prices. Edited excerpts.

After the GSTN portal crashed in the initial months and then at a time of the original date of e-way bill implementation, has the GST system stabilised now?

I may beg to differ. There was no crash of the portal, there were minor glitches initially in certain applications. Those were set corrected very soon. Of course, the system has perfectly stabilised now.

Both the Centre and states collected less than the target in the first eight months of GST roll out in 2017-18. Do you think the target will be met in the current financial year?

I think it is improving significantly. The lowest record was in November 2017, when collections went down to ~830.78 billion. From there, we have been increasing our revenues. Next month, it was ~840 billion, then ~890 billion, followed by ~920 billion, and the highest figure of ~1.3 trillion for March which was paid in April. In May, we again got ~940 billion. Our target should be ~1 trillion a month on an average this year. We hope that this would be met.

If you are so hopeful, why did you write to field officers to shore up revenues?

Not for that reason.

Are you factoring in any possible inclusion of petroleum within GST?

No.

Natural gas, ATF?

We will finalise the agenda in due course.

But bringing petroleum under GST would solve the problem of high prices...

I do not think so. GST is not a solution to this problem.

What is the level after one year —converging of slabs?

Our main thing has to be that filing returns becomes very very smooth. Number two, our revenues have to stabilise. We have promised an ambitious growth rate of 14 per cent to states. We have to keep that promise. The Centre should also get 14 per cent, after giving compensation to states. That is our main concern. After that, other reforms can be done.

Will rationalisation of rates be taken up in the next Council meeting?

It has not yet been decided.

Has there been an agreement on sugar cess?

The group of ministers has not yet given its report. The report will go to the Council.

The GSTNetwork is being changed into a government company. How long will it take to do so?

Not long. It is a matter of taking the proposal to the Cabinet and getting its approval.