Maharashtra Governor speaks on GST dues, says Centre just paid Rs 6,140 crore

After the Covid-19 crisis broke out, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government leaders have been requesting the Centre to clear GST dues

The Centre has just paid Rs 6,140 crore of Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues and gave Maharashtra a loan of Rs 11,520 crore against a whopping Rs 46,950 crore, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said this in his address to the joint session of Legislature on the opening day of the Budget Session.

After the Covid-19 crisis broke out, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government leaders including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat have been requesting the Centre to clear GST dues.

In his speech, Koshyari said: “By the end of February 2021, out of the Rs 46,950 crore due to my government as GST compensation, the Central government has paid just Rs 6,140 crore and Rs 11,520 crore as loan for GST compensation. GST compensation to the tune of Rs 29,290 crore is overdue from the Central Government.

The Governor also said that the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown and natural calamities have slowed down the state’s economy. “Out of the revenue collection target of Rs 3,47,456 crore, the State has collected just Rs 1,88,542 crore at the end of January 2021. This is 35 per cent less than the budgetary estimate and 21 per cent lower than the collection in the same period in the previous year,” he said.