Goods movement through Walayar, earlier the busiest checkpost, has come down considerably. Photo: ManoramaFollowing the implementation of Goods and Services Tax, there is a steep fall in the number of lorries with merchandise reaching Kerala from other states, crossing the border checkposts.
Since there is no need for mandatory checks, there are no queues at the checkposts. But the steep fall in lorry arrivals points to the fact that traders and producers have not yet become familiar with the new tax system and have not migrated to it.
The delay in implementing the new billing system envisaged by GST is the main reason for the fall in arrivals and dormancy witnessed in trading and production hubs.
Traders are unable to prepare bills including the new GST structure. Pricing for various products too has become difficult. Merchandise movement from warehouses, too, has also virtually come to a naught. A similar situation prevails in checkposts all over the State.
Functioning of nine squads of the Commercial Taxes Department formed within the ambit of the checkposts in Palakkad district could not function for want of guidelines.
In the absence of guidelines for checking vehicles, the squads have become part of those who check smuggling of merchandise through byroads.
The same is true in the case Excise and Motor Vehicle Department checkposts.
Vehicles are not entering the waybridge to check whether they are carrying more than what is mentioned in the bill. Post GST, such checking is not mandatory. Authorities need to examine only the declaration furnished by the lorries.
Goods movement through Walayar, earlier the busiest checkpost, has also come down considerably. About 2,500 lorries used to pass through the checkpost. Now it has come down to almost 800.
A similar situation prevails elsewhere too. In Muthanga, it has come down from 500 to about 150 vehicles per day.
Since there is no checking, traders are not keen on furnishing declaration. The staff in checkposts in Cumbum Mettu, Bodhi Mettu and Kumili are also examining only the declarations and there are no other inspections.
The stock, mostly textiles, bought from Tamil Nadu before implementing GST is being brought through these checkposts without any mandatory checking. The Special Branch has reported it too, but the Commercial Taxes Department is not taking any action in this score.
Three officers from Bodhi Mettu checkposts have been withdrawn. The Sales Tax office here would be converted into Excise office.
In Kumili there are there are 14 employees, including two sales tax officers and an inspector.
None of them have been shifted. Bill scrutiny has become impossible in Chinnar since there is no power there.
The Talapadi checkpost on Kerala-Karnataka border too does not see any rush of vehicles. The employees collect the declaration and examine it in due course.
As many as 2,500 goods lorries used to pass through Mahe-Azhiyoor checkpost earlier. Now it has come down to 100.
At Iritty-Kiliyanthara it has come down from average 180 per day to about 70. A similar situation prevails at Aryankavu checkpost in Kollam too.
