Dubbing the e-Trip (Transportation Information within Punjab) system as "sheer harassment" to the trade and industrial community, industry in Punjab on Friday threatened to intensify protest against the anti-tax evasion measure if it was not rolled back by Thursday.
Saying the e-Trip system would "choke" industrial growth, industry representatives said it would hit the small and tiny sector hard as those would not be able to comply with the conditions.
Industry in Ludhiana took out a protest rally seeking its rollback. "The state is bent on derailing the industry by introducing e-Trip. The state wants to squeeze the industry to generate 30-40 per cent growth in tax revenue," Ludhiana-based Knitwear Club President Vinod Thapar said.
Industry pointed out that majority of small and tiny units do not have computers and internet connections and some even lack computer knowledge.
"Then how can they implement this system," said All Industry and Trade Forum, Convener, Narinder Bhamra said. State industry even questioned the foolproof functioning of the E-Trip system, claiming that the new system had some technical glitches which caused delay in transportation of goods.
