Bizmen apprehensive over e-way bill implementation
Shivani Bhakoo /Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 17
As the e-way bill is due to start from February 1, the business community is apprehensive about the bill.
The major issue concerning the business community is uploading the details for sale of more than Rs 50,000 which are being transported beyond a distance of 10 km. The business community wants the threshold limit of Rs 50,000 to be enhanced.
Sanju Dhir, chairman of the Ludhiana Woolen Manufacturers’ Association, said the limit of Rs 50,000 is not justified. “It should be enhanced as Rs 50,000 is too small amount when it comes to sending consignments. It should be exceeded to at least Rs 1 lakh,” he said.
Traders are finding the provisions too harsh and limit too less. “The limit to upload the e-way bill is Rs 50,000 and the penalty for failing to upload the bill before transportation is 200 per cent. It should not be applicable on the intra-state transactions,” said Ramesh Kumar, a cycle parts manufacturer from the city.
“The industry is already going through a tough phase and instead of giving subsidies to the industry, the government is making things more difficult,” said Vinay Kansal, a garment manufacturer.
The local industry feels that the government is adding to the burden of the businessmen by introducing such bills.
Federation of Punjab Small Industries’ Association (FOPSIA) president Badish K Jindal said shortage of infrastructure would pose a major problem. “Not everyone has an easy access to the computers all the time. Secondly, if website/portal is jammed, there is every possibility of delay,” said Jindal.
Voicing similar views, Raj Kumar Singla, president of Fastener Manufacturers and Suppliers Association, said: “All traders/transporters are not well-educated. For E-way bills, they will have to hire technical persons. There will be hiccups, evaluation could be made wrong, mistake could be committed while getting the number, etc. Before announcing about such online bills, proper infrastructure and training should be provided by the government. The online system should be made easy,” said Singla.
