New Delhi: The GST council has discussed the issue of compensation for a long time today, but no solution has been found. The states were given two options for borrowing for compensation. The first option was to borrow Rs 1.10 lakh crore and the second option was to borrow Rs 2.35 lakh crore. While 21 states have opted for the first option, none have opted for the second option, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today. The finance minister has asked for more time to negotiate with the four states that have not chosen any option. The GST meeting was held for the third time today to address the issue of compensation. At a meeting today, some states demanded that the central government provide loans to states. The finance minister told them that the center could not borrow. Only states have to borrow. He encouraged ordinary people as well to take part in solving this great task: “One of the things you and other people can do is keep up the pressure … there are going to be some difficult decisions for government”. The finance minister said the center was ready for further discussions on compensation. It would not be appropriate for states that have adopted the first option to wait longer. “Some decisions have to be made soon,” he said.
