Footwear, rubber industry up in arms against different VAT rates

Kolkata, Jun 12 (UNI) The footwear and rubber manufacturers in West Bengal today threatened to shift operations if the differential VAT rates between states were not dealt with.

Footwear manufacturer Khadim India Ltd's president Suman Burman Roy told reporters that apart from plastic chappal, sandle and Hawai chappal having four per cent VAT, other footwear were attracting 12.5 per cent VAT rate in Bengal.

On the other hand, in Delhi and Haryana footwear having a MRP of Rs 300 were totally exempt from VAT rates and the applicable VAT rate is four per cent for the footwear priced between Rs 300 and Rs 700, he said.

" The rate is making the industry, employing 10 lakh people, uncompetitive. We want a level playing field with the other states, " Mr Burman Roy alleged.

He said several representations have been made to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta.

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