Monday, November 18, 2013: Hande added that while there was tax concession for IT products used by rich consumers in the State, it is sad that the same has not been extended to solar products.
Harish Hande, who is a Magsaysay Award winner and the MD of Selco India has said that the state government should not impose the 5.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on solar products.
Speaking at a press conference, Hande said that some states such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh had exempted solar products from VAT. Even in Karnataka, VAT was not imposed on solar products until 2002. He had brought the matter to the notice of the State government, but had not got any response on it, reported The Hindu.
Hande feels that solar products should be treated as tax-free products, which can help poor consumers. He added that while there was tax concession for IT products used by rich consumers in the State, it is sad that the same has not been extended to solar products, which is mostly used by poor consumers.
According to a Hindu report, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP K. Jayaprakash Hegde said he and Harish Hande would talk to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about exempting solar products from VAT.
