GST return filing dates extended for Kerala
New Delhi, Aug 21 : The government on Tuesday extended the deadlines for various Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns for taxpayers registered in flood-hit Kerala, Mahe in Puducherry and Kodagu in Karnataka.
It also extended the last date for filing GST summary sales returns or Form GSTR-3B for all classes of taxpayers across the country for the period of July to August 24.
"In light of the inconvenience faced by the people of Kerala due to the flood situation, the GST returns (GSTR-3B) for the month of July can now be filed by October 5, and the returns for the month of August can now be filed by October 10," Finance Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted.
The deadline for Form GSTR-1 (sales return) for the quarter July to September has been extended to November 15 for taxpayers having a turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore, the Finance Ministry said in a release.
For those with turnover above Rs 1.5 crore, the Form GSTR-1 has to be filed by October 5 for the month of July and October 10 for the month of August.
The Finance Ministry has also exempted the relief material coming from foreign countries for distribution in flood-ravaged Kerala from the customs duty and the GST.
"The government is committed to help Kerala in this time of devastation. We have made all the relief materials coming from foreign countries for the Kerala flood relief exempt from customs duty as well as GST," Goyal told reporters here.
The government also extended the last date for filing GST summary sales returns or Form GSTR-3B for the month of July to August 24 for all classes of taxpayers.
"In order to facilitate filing of easy GST returns, the government has extended the due date of filing GSTR-3B return to August 24, 2018. We are committed to ensuring that GST is a Good and Simple Tax," the Minister said in another tweet.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
