The Himachal government has announced that all orchardists in the state who purchased apple boxes and trays after April 1 this year will be liable for a 6% GST subsidy through the horticulture department and HPMC. The decision comes days before an expected protest march of apple producers in Shimla on August 5.
On Saturday, the committee established to stop the exploitation of orchardists at various levels met in Shimla under the direction of chief secretary R D Dhiman. It was decided in the meeting that a subsidy of 6 percent on Goods and Tax Services (GST) would be made available through the horticulture department and HPMC to all the orchardists in the state who had purchased apple boxes and trays after April 1.
According to Dhiman, in order to take advantage of this benefit, orchardists must visit the horticulture department's local office.
They will have to produce a copy of the GST bill, sales case (Sale Proof)/Transportation Goods Receipt/Market Fee copy along with their application in a prescribed format. This subsidy would also be offered on the trays and cartons sold by HPMC. The state government will be responsible for paying this GST expense.
According to him, the HPMC was also given orders to make the appropriate preparations for the allocation of at least one crore of packaging materials.
Further, it was determined that the Rs. 8.65 crores that the state government gave to the department would be used to pay off any pending MIS bills. It was told that funds would be made available by the government to cover this year's liabilities.
