At 13%, state second in generating e-way bills

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

Haryana accounted for 13 per cent of the e-way bills generated in the country from May 1 to May 20. This makes the state second in the country in this connection.

Of the 2.14 crore e-way bills generated in the first 20 days of May, 15 per cent were generated in Gujarat, making it the number one state in this regard. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh hold the second position, accounting for 13 per cent of e-way bills each.

Karnataka accounted for 11 per cent, Maharashtra 8 per cent, Delhi and Tamil Nadu 5 per cent each, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh 4 per cent each, and Kerala 3 per cent.

These 10 states accounted for 80 per cent of the e-way bills generated throughout the country from May 1 to 20.

On April 1, the Centre had launched the electronic way or e-way bill system for moving goods worth more than Rs 50,000 from one state to another under the GST regime.

The e-way bill for intra or within the state movement was rolled out on April 15. Haryana, however, started it five days later. The idea behind introducing e-way bills is to avoid tax evasion.

Sources say Haryana’s performance is being viewed as spectacular given the fact that bigger states with more business such as Maharashtra and Karnataka are behind Haryana.

Haryana has been featuring in the top five states when it comes to GST collection, leaving its neighbouring state of Punjab miles behind.

Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary, Excise and Taxation, said officers of his department had more than 300 meetings for training stakeholders. Besides, special sessions were organised for transporters.

“The use of technology has enabled the department to ensure a smooth implementation of the e-way bill system, both for inter-state and intra-state. More than 2,000 vehicles are being checked in the state every day and no complaint of harassment has been received. Once an officer checks a vehicle, it cannot be checked again during its movement. The Management Information System (MIS) also enable senior officers to know which officer has checked which vehicle and with what result,” Kaushal said.