Lucknow, Jan 1 (ANI): Amid opposition from a section of traders' organisations, Uttar Pradesh is all set to implement Value Added Tax (VAT) from today. State Governor T V Rajeswar issue an ordinance today, for implementation of VAT in the state. In the wake of threats from various traders' organisations to protest the imposition of VAT, the State Government has decided to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). With Uttar Pradesh deciding to implement VAT, this tax system has now been adopted across the country.

In the absence of the VAT regime, manufacturers and traders were unable to take benefit of Input Tax Credit, resulting into higher cost of goods as compared to other states. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Vyapar Mandal and the transport associations today continued their four-day long hunger strike to protest VAT.

As per the tax reforms announced by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on his 2004 budget speech, all states were to implement VAT from April 2005. (ANI)

Labels: Business

Bijnore, Oct.9 (ANI): The glass bottle manufacturing industry of Kiratpur in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnore District has made its own special recognition in the country due to its good quality and variety of bottles.

Many of these manufacturing units have existed here for 50 years. With the passage of time, the demand for glass bottles manufactured here has witnessed a sky-scrapping business to the tune of an annual turnover of rupees 20 crore (200 million rupees). Thousands of bottles are produced everyday in these factories. The factories use coal-lit furnaces in place of electricity to save power consumption. "We make up to 55,000 pieces a day and sell them at rupees 90 to 100 per box in the market. Overall, the business is good and many people get employment here. The workers are paid from rupees 100 to 140 per day," said Irfan Ahmed, a factory owner.

In view of the increasing demand over the years for its glass bottles, in specific, the manufactures here have been experimenting with various designs. The manufactures’ specialty includes production of bottles used for perfume, Itr and nail polish, and other assorted varieties for their major clients spread over Kanauj, Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.Besides, this glass bottle industry has also been a major source of direct or indirect income for lakhs of people. "It is an age-old business. This is also a primary employment source in the area of Kiratpur and in the absence of this profession, people would have to search for employment elsewhere outside this place," said Tariq Ahmed, another factory owner.

Several families in Bijnore have been dependent on the glass industry."I have been working here for the past two years and I am earning nearly rupees 120 per day after eight hours of hard work. It is really a good place to work and it took me six to eight months to learn the art," said Nadeem Ahmed, a worker. With automation and modernisation of glass blowing systems, the production is anticipated to reach the figure of six million bottles per month. (ANI)

Labels: Business