Industrialist wants GST on solar devices restored to 5%

Udupi: Chief executivIndustrialist wants GST on solar devices restored to 5%e officer of Selco Solar Lights Mohan Bhaskar Hegde on Friday regretted the raising of the Goods and Solar Tax (GST) on solar devices from 5% to 12%, which he said would hamper growth in the renewable energy sector. Hegde, who participated in the inaugural ceremony of ‘B-SAFE Centre for Excellence’ promoted by Bharatiya Vikas Trust in Manipal, said that the government must at least reduce the GST rate for solar panels that had a capacity of under 100W.

“Price of these solar panels must be nominal so as to make them affordable to all sections of society,” said Hegde, appealing to Karnataka energy minister V Sunila Kumar, who was among those in attendance at the ceremony. Kumar assured Hegde that he would consider the demand.

Source : PTI