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GST, cyclone threat dampen Diwali spirit
P Syamala, a housewife from Krishnalanka area in Vijayawada, feels the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and impending cyclonic threat dampen her Deepavali festive spirit. Syamala, who visited a retail outlet of fireworks at the PWD grounds on Tuesday, lamented that the steep rise in prices of fireworks in the name of GST burns a whole in her pocket.
Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: P Syamala, a housewife from Krishnalanka area in Vijayawada, feels the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and impending cyclonic threat dampen her Deepavali festive spirit. Syamala, who visited a retail outlet of fireworks at the PWD grounds on Tuesday, lamented that the steep rise in prices of fireworks in the name of GST burns a whole in her pocket.
She sets apart Rs 2,000 for purchase of fireworks during every Deepavali. She is forced to cough another Rs 750 to pay GST on her purchases. She said the dealers hiked the prices by 30-33 per cent, citing the GST.
D Srinivasa Rao, a trader is upset over the prospects of drop in sales on account of the GST and cyclonic threat. The state government was levying 14.5 per cent tax on the fireworks trade during the value added tax (VAR) regime in the last 11 years.
Then the GST was introduced with 28 per cent tax rates on fireworks, replacing the VAT. “It is quite natural that no trader bears any tax burden and the taxes have to be passed on to the customers. If more the prices as an effect of higher taxation, less the prospects of any goods finding takers in the market”, Srinivasa Rao told The Hans India.
The district administration allowed traders to sell fireworks on Tuesday, two days ahead of the festival. The trade began on a dull note which is also attributed to campaign for a “pollution free Deepavali” launched by green activists, besides nature’s vagaries and spiraling prices.
As if compounding the fears of traders and revelers, the weathermen in Visakhapatnam forecasted heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms from October 18, the day of Deepavali. Heavy rains continue to persist for another 24 hours, it’s predicted.
Consequently, West and East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts are likely to experience heavy rains in the next two days due to low pressure forming into a depression in the Bay of Bengal, said a bulletin released by Indian Meteorology department. Meanwhile, the cyclone threat cast a shadow over the trade of fireworks in Visakhapatnam as the people were found resisting temptation to purchase the material in view of cyclone warning.
The fireworks outlets in Visakhapatnam and several other coastal towns kept wearing a deserted look due to the low-pressure effect in the sea. The traders were seen feverishly preparing to insulate their shops with water-proof materials like tarpaulins.
By VL Syam Sundar/VKL Gayatri
