TS Lorry Association oppose entry tax

Even as there is hue and cry from AP commercial vehicle owners on Entry tax by TS government, their counterparts in TS state are also not happy with the new tax as it would add to their cost and also burden the consumers.

"We are a land locked state and if either TS Govt tax or reciprocal from AP Govt, the burden will be huge on consumer, trade and markets" say the Telangana Lorry Owners' Association leaders. Fearing retaliation by Andhra Pradesh they have threatened an agitation unless the entry tax imposed by the TRS government is withdrawn.

At present, goods carriers from Telangana do not attract any tax when they transport their commodities to Andhra Pradesh. However, their apprehension is that since Telangana has imposed entry tax for passenger vehicles and goods carriers coming from AP, the TDP government too might impose a similar tax in the days to come as a counter measure. In that case it will be detrimental to them.

The lorry owners' association demanded withdrawal of controversial GO15 by Monday failing which they would agitate, says Nukala Bhaskar Reddy, President of Telangana Lorry Owners Association. Several lorry owners favoured a bandh in protest. 'Is the Rs.40 crore collections from entry tax so important to the rich Telangana government? They pointed out.

We hope the issue will be amicably sorted out as the inter-state tax is harmful to both the states. Ultimately, it is the people who would suffer due to the increased prices of essential commodities,” says AP Lorry Owners Association general secretary Y V Eswaraiah.