Giving a wide berth to the demand of traders to abolish entry tax on sugar, ML Kapoor, chairman, Small Traders Board, on Wednesday made it clear that it could not be done — at least for the time being. Kapoor was in the city to chair a meeting of the board, where he also listened to grievances of the traders.

Kapoor also turned down the request of traders regarding single-window system for sales tax solutions. “Given the infrastructure the excise department has at present, it would be impossible to connect it with Suvidha centres,” he said.

Reacting to the demand for abolition of entry tax on sugar, Kapoor said, “Sugar traders who came to meet me demanded that 4% entry tax on sugar should be abolished. Already we have already waived off VAT on sugar and hence entry tax can not be abolished for the time being. Moreover it is a decision to be taken by the state government.”

Apart from this, the traders also said that VAT on pulses should be reduced from 4% to 1% in Punjab, which, they argued, would help in bringing down the prices to some extent in the state.

Kapoor said that the marble traders even requested that VAT should be reduced to 4% from 12.5%.

The chairman also rejected the traders’ demand that excise tax teams should inform them before inspecting their business premises. “It is just was not possible, as it would defeat the very purpose of inspection,” he said.

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