Industrialists will get VAT refund by December: Arora
₹89crore refund pending in Jalandhar dist alone
JALANDHAR: Industry and commerce minister Sunder Sham Arora assured the agitating industrialists here on Thursday that the state government will meet their long-pending demand of refunding the value-added tax (VAT) by December.
“The state government will release the fund in instalment of ₹300 crore each every two months and by December 100% pendency in the state will be cleared,” Arora said. As per information, ₹89-crore VAT refund is pending in Jalandhar district only.
Arora, accompanied by the member of Parliament (MP) Santokh Singh Chaudhary, was here to launch the second phase of “Business First’ portal, which will facilitate the industrialists in regulatory clearances and fiscal approvals, real-time tracking of applications at a common platform.
Arora, while addressing the gathering, said that the state government has taken path-breaking initiatives as the deputy commissioner (DC) concerned can approve micro industrial unit worth up to ₹10 crore.
“It will held traders save their time as they will not have to travel to Chandigarh for minor approvals,” he said.
He said that self access facility for applicants has also been provided in the portal for the traders for the first time by which applicants will be able to examine their applications and enclosed documents.
Arora also sanctioned ₹2.95 crore for the construction of road at Dhogri focal point area.
Secretary, industry and director, Rakesh Verma, said that the state has identified 22 industrial clusters, including three in Jalandhar, for development of common facility centres in the state.
Industrialists raised several issues, including upgrading of the treatment plant, better roads and sewerage system at focal points and electricity at ₹5 per unit without any taxes. Industrialists have also demanded an industrial park, and research and development centre for the district.