GST hits Telangana Tandur stone market

Hyderabad: The Tandur stone industry has been hit hard due to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax. Tandur stones used to be taxed at 5 per cent previously, which has gone up to 28 per cent under the GST. 

While rich and upper middle class home buyers use vitrified tiles or marble, the less prosperous families use Tandur stones, also known as Shabad stone, for houses.

Chevella MP Konda Visweswara Reddy recently met Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and submitted a representation seeking reduction of GST on Tandur stones.

Mr Reddy said, “Unpolished Tandur stone costs around Rs 4 per square feet at the quarry and the polished slab costs around Rs 14 per in the market. Tandur stones are used by the poorest of poor, and are put in the same slab of 28 per cent as marble slabs and vitrified tiles.”

He said most of Tandur stone units are in rural areas, where they generate employment. It is estimated that around 50,000 persons are employed in and around Tandur in the industry. In Rajasthan the low cost Kotha stone has different GST rate, he said.

Mr Jaitley assured Mr Visewswara Reddy that he would take up the issue with the GST Council.