TTD requests Centre to exempt ingredients of Tirupati laddu from GST

Andhra's Finance Minister said that he would take up the issue with the GST Council.
TTD requests Centre to exempt ingredients of Tirupati laddu from GST
TTD requests Centre to exempt ingredients of Tirupati laddu from GST
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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reportedly appealed to the Centre, to exempt the ingredients that it purchases for making laddus and other prasadams, from the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who addressed media persons on Saturday, said that he had received a memorandum from the TTD on the issue.

TNIE reported that the TTD had also requested for tax exemption on items used for pooja and serving pilgrims at choultries, guest houses, besides the sale of human hair and other revenue sources of the temple board.

Pointing out that the TTD had already been granted immunity under VAT by the state government, Ramakrishnudu said that he would take the issue to the notice of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. 

Arun jaitley is also the Chairman of the GST Council.

Last week, the Council completed the exercise of bringing all items under a 4-slab tax structure.

The GST Council had convened for its 15th meeting to finalise the rate fitment of the remaining six items, including gold.

The fitment of 1,211 items was decided at the Council's previous meeting held last month in Srinagar. 

The TTD governs the Lord Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, which is the richest Hindu temple in the world.

The temple, situated in Andhra’s Chittoor district, receives 60,000-80,000 people every day, and is managed by hundreds of officials and priests.

During the summer vacations, and on special occasions, that figure even crosses a lakh.

In April this year, the temple board said that it earned Rs 1,038 crore through cash offerings from devotees in 2016-17.

Stating that 2.68 crore devotees visited the shrine during the financial year, the TTD also said that a total of 10.46 crore laddus were sold during this time.

Meanwhile, it approved a Rs 2,858 crore annual budget for 2017-18.

IANS inputs

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