No jugaad with GST rollout, warns WB FM

West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra on Sunday maintained that GST should not be implemented with “jugaad” and the rollout date for the new indirect tax regime should be postponed by a month.

“There is unpreparedness. Your own GSTN is telling you that they will only be able to provide spreadsheets for uplinking by end of the month,” said Mr Mitra.

He said West Bengal has been the “pioneer” in seeking GST implementation, but the regime should be such that common man and small traders benefit alike. “I have also added a caveat (in the Council meeting) that July 1 looks extremely difficult. You cannot do Jugaad for world’s largest fiscal reform called GST,” Mr Mitra said.

He said that in India anything can be managed by jugaad but not GST. “Like demonetisation could not be managed by jugaad. That is why you got a fall in last quarter’s GDP number. There is a limit. This is much bigger than demonetisation. Note ban involved banks and the public. This involves millions of enterprises,” said Mr Mitra.

He said that GST will involve processing of 300 crore of invoices per month. “How will it happen. Can you imagine the size of the activity,” he said

However, the West Bengal finance minister signaled a softening of stance asking not to worry about the passage of State GST law in West Bengal.

“We will, don’t worry,” West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra told this newspaper when asked whether West Bengal will pass the state GST bill.

Sources indicated that West Bengal has an option to bring in ordinance if it could not pass the state GST law on time.

Sources said passing of law is also not difficult as it is reflection of Central GST passed by the Parliament.

There is unpreparedness. Your own GSTN is telling you that they will only be able to provide spreadsheets for uplinking by end of the month

— AMIT MITRA