Delhi urges Centre to cut GST on raw materials used for alternatives to single-use plastics

4 Jul 2022 , 09:27 AM

Gopal Rai, Environment Minister in Delhi, said the city administration will ask the federal government to lower the GST on the raw materials used to make products that aren’t made of single-use plastic (SUP).

The public, as well as several government institutions, are quite confused about the things that are subject to the prohibition, according to the minister, who presided over a roundtable with stakeholders to consider alternatives to SUP. To avoid confusion when enforcing the prohibition, he stated, “We will have a training session for our enforcement teams.”

If punishment is meted out for using goods that are not prohibited, the government will also establish a hotline number where complaints may be made, according to Rai. To guarantee that the prohibition is followed, the revenue department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, respectively, have formed 33 and 15 teams.

The municipal administration will write to the Centre about the matter, according to Rai, after certain stakeholders called the minister’s attention to the high GST rates on the raw materials for green alternatives. According to him, the Delhi government would ask the Centre to lower the GST rates on the raw materials used to make substitutes for single-use plastics.

Jute and canvas are subject to GST rates of 5% and 18%, respectively, according to representatives of businesses producing environmentally friendly alternatives who spoke with the minister. According to Vidur Mayor of “For Earth’s Sake,” a zero-waste lifestyle retailer that sells plastic-free stationery, home goods, and personal care items, “Products produced of recycled newspaper attract 8% GST.”