Industries Minister Bikram Singh urges early release of GST Compensation

Shimla : The 40th Goods and Services Tax council meeting was held today under the Chairmanship of Union Finance Minister and Chairman GST Council Nirmala Sitharaman. Minister of State Anurag Thakur was also present on the occasion. State Industries Minister Bikram Singh attended the meeting through Video Conference here today.During his intervention in the meeting Bikram Singh thanked the Union Government to provide liberal support to the state. He said that Himachal was a small state and its entire economy is dependent on Tourism sector. Due to COVID-19 and lock down in the state as well as in the country tourism activities have come to a severe halt in the state and mining activities have also come to standstill, he added. He said that the state has received the GST compensation of Rs. 612 crore till January, 2020. He urged the Union Finance Minister to release the March GST compensation of the state which is about Rs. 216 crore at the earliest.Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Public Works, Excise & Taxation and Information & Public Relations Jagdish Chander Sharma along with other senior officers were also present on this occasion.