GST: State to oppose Centres move

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has said that the State will oppose the Centres move to bring natural gas and molasses used for captive consumption under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime.

The Finance Minister denied any move to raise the retirement age of employees and teachers. It is one way to stabilise the financial position of the State that is facing acute crisis. We have no plan to increase the retirement age. The government is looking into the report of the committee on statutory pension.

The government is for collecting the tax arrears and taking stern steps against those evading tax. Many are willingly giving Money for charity, but are reluctant to pay taxes to the government, he said. The government would seek the cooperation of traders and the business community in improving tax collection, he said.