After a month of ‘No checking points’ and ‘No vigilance squad’ on road, and numerous reports and complaints of dispatches that are ‘unreported in books’ or ‘undervalued’ the State Governments are finally taking strict measures to stop the practice. Reports about ‘undervalued’ plywood and boards being dispatched from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are received thus Checking squads have begun their strict operations on roads since 5th August.
According to latest inputs received from Haryana, the teams from ‘Excise & Taxation’ have started checking documents of each truck that is being dispatched from Yamuna Nagar. As per sources, a dozen lorries have been held by the ‘checking squad’ on charges of ‘undervalue’ on the exit highways of Yamuna Nagar. There are reports of more ‘checking squad’ being deployed who will check and siege the material who will be caught for not carrying genuine required documents and adequate valuation. There is lot of panic among those manufacturers who were trying to take advantage of ‘Checking free roads’.
'The checking squad for genuine compliance and under value material is expected to be tightened in coming days in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as well’ says sources of Ply Reporter magazine. According to AIPMA president Mr Devender Chawla ‘until E-way bill is implemented, the need of checking squad is a necessity to bring level playing field for each manufacturer and trader’. He added that according to information, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are also taking measures to stop such dispatches. In plywood manufacturing cluster in Perambavoor, Kerala, strict vigilance has been enacted since last month and state tax authorities have already applied heavy penalties to factories that have not been according to GST compliance.
Even after 35 days, since GST law is enacted, Plywood industry and trade is struggling to come to terms with high GST slab of 28%. Since announcement of 28.0 % slab on plywood & other wood panels, the mood of Plywood Industry and trade is subdued and protests are continued at different places with appeal to reduce the GST from 28 % to lower slab. After 28% slab, wood panels have become costlier by 6-10 percent varying from brand to brand.