Hyderabad: Ganesh idol-makers in the city are exploited by paint and plaster of Paris suppliers from Mumbai, Kolhapur, Surat and Kolkata. They alleged that the suppliers imposed an 18 per cent GST but did not give any bill.
Mr Sunder Kalakar, an artist from Dhoolpet, said that they faced many hurdles while transporting the raw materials from other states. “As the suppliers did not give us GST bills, our consignments were stopped at the border check-posts. We were forced to shell out extra money. In some cases, we had to bribe the officials,” he noted.
He further said, “We usually procure paints from Mumbai, Kolhapur and Surat. We buy glitters, fibre, stone plaster and clay from Maharashtra.”
Scrap dealers also imposed an 18 per cent GST on steel, which was not taxed earlier.
