West Bengal CM Smt. Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for providing an exemption from GST/customs duty and other such duties and takes on oxygen concentrators, cylinders, cryogenic storage tanks. tankers & tank containers and COVID related drugs. Read the official representation letter below:
No.6 - CM/2021
Respected Prime Minister,
May 09, 2021
I am writing to you regarding a critical issue on facilitating augmentation of medical system including infrastructure equipment, medicine and oxygen, necessitated due to sudden spike in the number of COVID cases in the country in general and also in West Bengal.
We all are trying our best to face new challenges and making all efforts to channelize resources from different sources, including ensuring availability of life saving drugs and oxygen for COVID treatment.
A large number of organizations, Individuals and benevolent agencies have come forward to donate oxygen concentrators, cylinders, cryogenic storage tanks. tankers and tank containers and COVID related drugs. Donations from these organizations will greatly supplement the efforts of the Stale Government in meeting the huge gap in demand and supply.
However, many of the donors and agencies have approached the State Government to consider exemption of these items from customs duty/SGST/CGST/IGST.
As the rate structure falls under the purview of the Central Government, I would request that these Items may be exempted from GST/customs duty and other such duties and taxes, to help remove supply constraints of the above-mentioned life-saving drugs and equipment and contribute towards effective management of COVID pandemic.
I look forward to your kind consideration and cooperation in this critical matter.
With regards,
(Mamata Banerjee)
Shri Narendra Modi
Hon'ble Primo Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi - 110 011
To read Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman's reply to the above letter, Click Here