e-way bills in West Bengal, Bihar trouble city industry

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

e-billing which has been started by some states such as West Bengal, Uttaranchal, and Bihar, is giving a tough time to the city’s hosiery industry which regularly sends consignments to the where e-way billing has begun.

Buyers from states have started cancelling the orders as e-way billing is yet to be started in Punjab. Buyers from other states are reportedly not accepting the handwritten bills.

“Buyers are not ready to give orders to us because the bills being issued by us are invalid in their states. Since, the concept of e-bill has not yet been adopted in Punjab, we have to issue normal bills which are not being accepted in many states,” said Sanju Dhir, chairman of the Ludhiana Woollen Manufactures’ Association.

Dhir said in Punjab, manual bill up to Rs 50,000 was allowed but the buyers from many states want the e-way bill to be issued.

Another hosiery manufacturer Suresh Singla said the government should have started e-way billing simultaneously in all states. The present situation had created utter chaos for the businessmen here. “Buyers are not ready to accept consignments without bills and Punjab is yet to start the e-way billing,” he said.

Government had announced to start e-way billing from October, but some states have already started it, creating a difficult situation for the trade and industry, he added.

What is e-way Bill:

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) requires that any purchase of goods valuing more than Rs 50,000 should be registered online before the consignment is moved. A centralised software is being developed which will be adopted by every state. e-way bills will be valid for one to 20 days, depending upon the distance to be travelled.