The increasing air pollution in Delhi has increased the problems of the people. To avoid poisonous air, people are now taking the help of air purifiers in their homes and offices. The effect of increasing levels of pollution is now clearly visible in the market also. There has been a rapid increase in the demand for air purifiers and their availability has started decreasing in many places. According to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), the demand for air purifiers in Delhi has increased by almost five times.
Whereas earlier an average of four air purifiers were sold daily at a shop, now this figure has increased to around 20. Due to the sudden increase in demand, a tremendous increase in the sales of this product is being seen in the market. According to CTI, some companies have even run out of air purifier stock. Shopkeepers are continuously receiving orders from customers, while maintaining supply in the face of increasing demand is becoming a challenge.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has demanded the Central Government to reduce GST on air purifiers. CTI says that in pollution affected areas including Delhi, air purifier is no longer just a luxury product, but has become a necessity for the people. In such a situation, the tax on it should be reduced, so that its price is reduced and common families can also buy it easily. According to the organization, in the current situation of pollution, the need for air purifiers is increasing to protect children, elderly and other people from poisonous air. But due to its high price, not every family is able to buy it. CTI has demanded from the Central Government that keeping in mind the health of the common people and the seriousness of pollution, the GST rate on air purifiers should be reduced. This can provide financial relief to consumers and also increase its reach in the market.
CTI wrote a letter to the Finance Minister
The organization has appealed to reduce the GST on air purifiers and HEPA filters from 18 percent to 5 percent. In this regard, CTI has written a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanding tax reduction. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal and General Secretary Gurmeet Arora have said in a letter sent to the Finance Minister that at present 18 percent GST is being imposed on air purifiers along with its filters and other important parts.
The organization believes that in view of the serious situation of pollution, the tax on these products should be reduced to 5 percent. CTI, while mentioning the pollution related situation of Delhi in the letter, said that the people of the capital are forced to breathe poisonous air every day. In such a situation, the need for air purifier is continuously increasing, but its high price is making it difficult for common families to buy it. The organization says that reducing GST on air purifiers and HEPA filters can bring relief in their prices and more and more families will be able to buy them. In the current situation of pollution, these devices should be seen as a necessity for common people rather than a luxury product.
6 major demands including reducing GST on air purifiers
To provide relief to the people from the increasing air pollution and poisonous air in Delhi, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has put forward six major demands before the Central Government. The organization has demanded a special pollution relief package of Rs 5 thousand crore for Delhi. Along with this, a proposal has also been made to reduce GST on air purifiers and related products. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal and General Secretary Gurmeet Arora have written a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, appealing for special financial assistance to deal with pollution. The organization says that in view of the serious situation of pollution in Delhi, it is necessary to take relief and prevention measures with immediate effect.
CTI's major demands include reducing GST on air purifiers and its parts from 18 percent to 5 percent. Apart from this, there has been a demand to reduce the GST rate on raw materials used in the manufacturing of air purifiers from 12 percent to 5 percent. The organization believes that tax cuts can help in reducing production costs and the price of equipment in the market.
Rs 500 crore assistance for schools, hospitals and markets
CTI has also demanded special assistance of Rs 500 crore to install air purifiers in Delhi government schools, hospitals, Anganwadi centers and 100 big markets. The organization says that provision of air purifiers in public places is necessary to provide a safe environment to children, patients and common people who are most affected by pollution.
Special relief package of Rs 5 thousand crores
The organization has raised the demand for a special package of Rs 5 thousand crore for pollution control and relief works in Delhi. According to CTI, awareness campaigns alone are not enough to deal with pollution, but it requires large-scale economic resources and concrete plans.
Demand for relief for businessmen affected by pollution
CTI has appealed to the Central Government to provide relief in EMI payments for six months to the traders affected due to Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and market closure. The organization says that the restrictions imposed to control pollution and the closure of markets affect the sales and business of traders. Apart from this, CTI has also demanded a rebate of 2 percent in the interest rate on working capital loans of the affected traders. According to the organization, businessmen constantly need capital to run their businesses. In such a situation, their financial problems increase further due to affected sales and increased burden of loan installments.
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