Punjab government to allow brick industry to pay lump sum VAT

The Punjab Government today decided to allow the brick industry in the state to pay VAT on lump sum basis on the pattern of neighbouring Haryana.

A decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting here under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal with a 20-member delegation of Punjab Brick kiln Owners Association led by its president Kuldip Singh Makkar.

The brick industry in Punjab was paying lump sum sales tax many years prior to the imposition of the VAT system which replaced sales tax.

Badal also directed the state chief secretary to hold a separate meeting of the representatives of brick industry with the Department of Food and Supplies and Industries to sort out their other demands.

Their demands also include withdrawal of notification issued on September 11, 2003 regarding abolishing Inspector Raj and imposition of lump sum royalty on Haryana pattern according to the size of the kilns.

The chief minister assured the association that the genuine demands would be considered sympathetically.