2023(08)LCX0257(AAR)

AAR-TAMIL NADU

Sirupooluvapatti Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited

decided on 30-08-2023

New Page 1

AUTHORITY FOR ADVANCE RULING, TAMILNADU
ROOM NO.206, 2ND FLOOR, PAPJM BUILDING,
NO.1. GREAMS ROAD, CHENNAI - 600 006.

ORDER UNDER SECTION 98(4) OF THE CGST ACT, 2017 AND UNDER
SECTION 98(4) OF THE TNGST ACT, 2017.

Member present:

Smt. D. Jayapriya, I.R.S.,
Additional Commissioner / Member
Office of the Principal Chief
Commissioner of GST & Central Excise,
Chennai 600 034.
Smt. N. Usha
Joint Commissioner (ST)/ Member,
Office of the Authority for Advance Ruling
Tamil Nadu,
Chennai 600 006.

Advance Ruling No. 31/AAR/2023 Dated: 30.08.2023

1. Any appeal against this Advance Ruling order shall be filed before the Tamil Nadu State Appellate, Authority for Advance Ruling, under Sub section (I) of Section 100 of Central Goods and Service Tax Act / Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017('the Act' in short) within 30 days from the date on which the ruling sought to be appealed against is communicated.

2 In terms of Section 103(1) of the Act, this Advance ruling pronounced by the Authority under Chapter XVII of the Act shall be binding only-
(a) on the applicant who had sought it in respect of any matter referred to in sub section (2) of section 97 for advance ruling;

(b) on the concerned officer or the jurisdictional officer in respect of the applicant.

3. In terms of Section 103(2) of the Act, this advance ruling shall be binding unless the law, facts or circumstances supporting (he original advance ruling have changed.

4. Advance Ruling obtained by the applicant by fraud or suppression of material facts or misrepresentation of facts, shall render such ruling to be void ab initio in accordance with Section 10-1 of the Act.

5. At the outset, we would like to make it clear that (he provisions of hot ft the Central Goods and Service Tax Act and the Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act are the same except for certain provisions. 'Therefore, unless a mention is specifically made to such dissimilar provisions, a reference to the Central Goods and Service Tax Act would also mean a reference to the same provisions under the Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017.

GSTIN Number, if any / User id

33AAJCS8719E1Z8

Legal Name of Applicant

Sirupooluvapatti Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited

Registered Address / Address provided while obtaining user id

SF No. 632, Athuvazhi Thottam,
Sirupooluvapatti Post, Tirupur,
Coimbatore 641 603.

Details of Application

Form GST AKA 01
Application Sl.No.57/2022/ARA,
dated 17.11.2022.

Concerned Officer

Centre: Coimbatore Commissionerate
State: Gandhi Nagar Assessment Circle.

Nature of activity(s) (proposed / present) in respect of which advance ruling sought for

A

Category

Supply of goods

B

Description (in brief)

Common Effluent Treatment Plant

Issue/s on which advance ruling required Classification of good and /or services or both Applicability of notification issued under the provisions of the Act.

Queslion(s) on which advance ruling is required

1.What is the appropriate classification of the treated water that would be sold by the Applicant, after carrying out various treatment process on the effluent water purchased by them?

2. What is the rate of GST applicable on the said treated water which would be sold by the Applicant?

M/s Sirupooluvapatti Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited, SF No. 632, Athuvazhi Thottam, Sirupooluvapatti Post, Tirupur, Pin.: 641 603 (hereinafter called as the 'Applicant') is registered under the GST Acts with GSTIN: 33AAJCS8719E1Z8.

2.0 In their application for Advance Ruling, the Applicant has stated, inter-alia, the following as their nature of activity proposed:

(i) the Applicant is a common effluent treatment plant, set up by the various dyeing units in that area;

(ii) the Applicant is planning to buy the effluents from dyeing units and that the effluents will be delivered from the dyeing units to the Applicant through pipelines;

(iii) the effluent will be processed at the plant and the resultant treated water is to be sold to the dyeing units.

2.1 The Applicant has sought for advance ruling on the following questions;

1. What is the appropriate classification of the treated water that would be sold by the Applicant, after carrying out various treatment process on the effluent water purchased by them?

2. What is the rate of GST applicable on the said treated water which would be sold by the Applicant?

2.2. The Applicant has submitted the copy of application in Form GST ARA - 01 and also submitted a copy of challan evidencing payment of application fees of Rs.5,000/- each under sub-rule (1) of Rule 101 of CGST Rules 2017 and SGST Rules 2017.

2.3 The Applicant has been established as a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant, undertaking treatment of dyeing and bleaching effluents discharged / received from their member dyeing units, SO as to completely prevent discharge of any effluent into the nearby water bodies.

2.4. As per the written submissions made, their main objective is to treat the effluents generated from all its member units. The effluent water is received from the member Dyeing units through pipelines and the effluent is subjected to various treatment processes to obtain reusable water with zero discharge of any effluents.

2.5. The effluent treatment, as explained by the Applicant, is as given below:

3.0. The Applicant's interpretation of law/facts in respect of the questions raised, they submitted the following:

99.

2201

Water other than aerated, mineral, purified, distilled, medicinal, Ionic, battery, de-mineralized and water sold in sealed container.

From the above, it is seen exemption is not available to certain types of water. However, the treated water proposed to be sold would be covered by the expression 'purified' or 'dc mineralized' and hence attract 9% CGST and 9% SGST for the reasons:

Sl.No.

Minerals RO Feed RO Recovered water RO Reject

1

PH 6.5 5.9 7.6

2

TDS mg/1 10000 150000 400

3

Calcium mg/1 120 3 1460

4

Magnesium mg/1 80 1 980

5

Sodium mg/1 4600 140 50100

6

Chloride mg/1 3500 140 30500

7

Sulphate 4000 110 61000

8

Bicarbonate 400 20 1800

3.1. They relied upon the decision of TN AAR in the case of M/s. Kasipalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited (AAR Tamilnadu 23/AAR/2021), in a similar case, wherein it was pronounced that. Water recovered, which is de mineralized water for Industrial use is classifiable under Heading No. 2201 as Waters described under SI. No. 24 of Annexure III of Notification No.01/2017 - Central Tax (Rate), dated 28-6-2017 taxable at rate of 18 per cent GST. They also relied on the ruling issued by Gujarat AAAR in the case of Aquaa Care(Surat) RO Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and ruling issued by the Karnalaka AAR in the case of Water Health India Pvt. Ltd., wherein it was held that treated water is purified water and liable to GST.

4.0 The Applicants were offered personal hearing on 28.07.2023, wherein Shri.G Nalarajan, Advocate (Authorised Representative -AR) appeared for the Applicant and reiterated the submissions made in the application. He stated that the treated water is partly deminoralized, which is used for Industrial purposes and not suited for human consumption. Therefore, it would fall under Chapter heading 2201 and applicable tax would be 18%. The Members asked the AR to submit test report conducted on ted both on the effluent water and treated water and certificate to that effect and also detailed flow chart showing the end products. Members also asked him to submit the details of all the byproducts obtained on treatment of effluent water other than Demineralized water, whether they are sold back to the dyeing units or any other third party and bills pertaining to the same.

5.0. The State jurisdictional authority furnished the following report, wherein regarding taxability of the treated water, they have staled that-

6.0 With the above background of facts, the Applicant is before us seeking ruling on the following question:

1. What is the appropriate classification of the treated water that would be sold by the Applicant, after carrying out various treatment process on the effluent water purchased by them?

2. What is the rate of GST applicable on the said treated water which would be sold by the Applicant?

As the question is to determine the classification of goods or services, which is within the ambit of the Authority under section 97 (2) (g) of the CGST Act, the same is taken up for decision.

DISCUSSIONS & FINDINGS

6.1 We have carefully examined the statement of facts, supporting documents filed by the Applicant along with application, submissions/Additional submissions made and the comments of the Central/State Jurisdictional Authority.

6.2 The Applicant is a common effluent treatment plant engaged in rendering hazardous waste treatment and disposal services.The treated water and salt recovered during the treatment /process are being supplied to member units for their reuse. So far, they have paid tax @ 12% classif}'ing their services under the group 99943 water treatment and disposal services.

6.3 In order to prevent pollution of River water and ground water, TNPCB has made the Zero Liquid Discharge system (ZLD in short) mandatory for all the highly polluting industries including Textile Dyeing and Bleaching industries, Tanneries etc., which use considerable amount of salt in the process and consume huge quantity of water. The ZLD system ensures recovery of water & salt from the effluent water, thus preventing pollution of River / ground water.

6.4 In this context, the Applicant is functioning as a common plant to treat the effluents generated in the member textile dyeing units during the dyeing and bleaching process recovering maximum quantity of water, salts and other solids which could be beneficially reused, leaving zero discharge at the end of the treatment process.

6.5 As per the submissions made, at present, the Applicant is rendering the service of hazardous waste treatment and disposal services, by treating the effluent water and supplying treated water and other recovered products for reuse by the member units. Now, they have proposed to purchase effluent water from the member unit and after treating the same they propose to supply the resultant products to their member units so as to classify their activities as supply of goods.

6.6 From the various submissions of the Applicant both during the personal hearing and written submissions, it is clear that the applicant seeks to purchase the raw effluent and proposes to treat the same. The applicant proposes to sell the resultant products at market rates.

6.7 The first question to be examined is ' what is the appropriate classification of the treated water that would be sold by the Applicant, after carrying out various treatment process on the effluent water purchased by them'. The Applicant is of the view that the treated water recovered is demineralized water, which is classifiable under HSN 2201 and is liable for GST rate of 18% under S.No.24 of Schedule III of Notification No.01/2017-CT(Ratc) dated 28.06.2017 and the benefit of exemption from payment of GST as per Sl.No.99 of Notification NO.02/2017-CT(Rate) dated 28.06.2017, cannot be claimed by them.

6.8 In this context, the Applicant has referred the advance rulings pronounced in the following cases.

1. M/s. Kasipalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited (AAR Tamilnadu- 23/AAR/2021, Dated: 18.06.2021.

2. Gujarat AAR in the case of Aquaa Care (Sural) RO Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - GAAR/1 1/2019, Dated: 24.07.2019.

3. Karnataka AAR in the case of Water Health India Pvt. Ltd. KARADRG 12/2020, Dated: 18.02.2020.

6.9 The Advance ruling pronounced in the case of M/s. Water Health India Pvt. Ltd., by the Karnataka Advance Ruling Authority is related to processing of raw water from well, pond bore well and other sources through Reverse Osmosis process to get purified water meant for drinking purpose.

Similarly, the Advance Ruling pronounced by the Gujarat Authority for Advance Ruling is also related to purification of raw water through RO and UV technologies and selling purified water in containers.

Therefore, both these rulings are not relevant to the case of the Applicant. Further, these rulings were issued prior to the issue of Circular No. 179/11/2022, dated 03.08.2022.

In the case of M/s. Kasipalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant Private Limited, it was pronounced that, Water recovered out of effluent treatment process, is partly de-mincralizcd in nature for industrial use and therefore is classifiable under Heading No. 2201 as Waters described under SI. No. 24 of Annexure-III of Notification No.01/2017 - Central Tax (Rate), dated 28 6-2017 taxable at the rate of 18 per cent GST.

6.10. Water recovered has been categorized as dc-mincralized/purified water in aforesaid rulings, classifiable under Heading No. 2201 under the following entry in Notification No. 01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017. To decide upon the taxability of effluent treated water, it is required to analyze the aforesaid classification. The entry given under the said notification is as under:

SI.No.

Heading

Description of Service

Rate

24

2201

Waters including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured;Ice and snow (other than Drinking water packed in 20 litre bottles)

9%

6.11 Chapter 22- covers Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar, covers water, non­alcoholic, alcoholic beverages. More specifically, as per explanatory notes to the Heading 22.01 - Waters including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured; Ice and snow, this heading covers;

(A) Ordinary natural water of all kinds (other than sea water - see heading 25.01).

Such waters remain in the heading, whether or not clarified or purified, except that distilled or conductivity water and water of similar purity are classified in heading 28.53.

The heading excludes sweetened or flavoured water (heading 22.02)

(B) Mineral Waters, whether natural or artificial

Natural mineral waters contain mineral salts or gases. The composition of these waters varies considerably and they are generally classified according to the chemical characteristics or their salts, e.g.:

(1) Alkaline waters

(2) Sulphated waters

(3) Halide waters

(4) Sulphuretted waters

(5) Ferruginous waters

Such natural mineral waters may also contain natural or added carbon dioxide.

Artificial mineral waters are prepared from ordinary potable water by adding the active principles (mineral salts or gases) present in the corresponding natural waters so as to produce waters of the same properties.

(C) Aerated Waters (carbonated waters), i.e. ordinary potable waters charged with carbon dioxide gas tinder pressure. They are often called "soda waters" or "Seltzer" waters although true "Seltzer" water is a natural mineral water.

The heading excludes sweetened or flavoured aerated waters (heading 22.02)

(D) Ice and snow, i.c.natural snow and ice, and artificially frozen water.

In the present case, the treated water from the effluent plant, will not fall into any of the categories above. Therefore, this treated water will not fit into si.No.24 of Notification No.01/2017-CT(Ratc) dated 28.06.2017.

6.12. It is the claim of the Applicant that the treated water will not fall under the said entry sl.no.99 in Notification No. 2/2017 - Central Tax (Rate) dated 28th June 2017 as it is demineralized water. As per the Customs Tariff Act, de -mineralized water has been grouped in chapter 28 under the heading 28.53 - Distilled and conductivity water and water of similar purity. As per explanatory notes, this heading covers only distilled water, redistilled water or electro osmotic water, conductivity water and water of similar purity, including water treated with ion exchange media, which have got special usages.

6.13. As per the standard Chemistry references, demineralized water is explained as detailed below;

Demineralized water has all its mineral content almost removed. The most common DM water processes are:

1. Deionisation

2. Distillation

3. Electro dialysis

4. Filtration using membranes (Nano filtration or reverse osmosis)

De-mincralized water is obtained by passing water successively through a cation exchange ( in the H+ form) and an anion exchange (in the OH- form) resin and it is free from all soluble mineral salts. The pH of demineralized water is close to 7.0 indicating that, it is neither acidic nor basic as it is almost devoid of salts. The total dissolved solids (TDS) value of the water depends on the amount of minerals that are dissolved in water. When minerals like calcium bicarbonate, magnesium sulphate, and sodium chloride increases then the TDS value increases. The TDS value of demineralized water should always be less than 10 mg/L (ppm) even as low as lmg/1. TDS levels in spring or mineral waters, on the other hand, range from 50 to 300 mg/L. Demineralized water is suited to a large range of uses from pharmaceutical manufacturing to the automotive industry.

6.14. Upon going through the processes effected by the Applicant, the effluent water is subjected to micro-filtration and sand filtration process to remove suspended impurities. They have then used a scries of RO units for removing
minerals. In spite of the RO treatment, the TDS of the treated water is higher, which can be seen from the test report. As per the report furnished by The South India Textile Researeh Association (SITRA) Textile Testing and Service Centre, test report No.V2300306 dated 09.08.2023 of Sample given for testing, in the case of the Applicant, it is seen that the reeovered water contains chlorides, sulphates, Bicarbonates, etc. The TDS levels of the treated water as per the test report is 616 mg/1, which clearly shows the treated water is not demineralized as per the standard norms. From the above, it is clear that treated water cannot be construed as de-mineralized water.

6.15. As already discussed, treated water will not fit into si.No.24 of Notification No.01/2017-CT(Ratc) dated 28.06.2017. Also treated water is not demineralized water as claimed by them but water, without any special characters as indicated in the tariff entries.

6.16. SI.No.99 entry in Notification No. 2/2017 - Central Tax (Rate) dated 28th June 2017, includes ordinary water and excludes all special category water and the same reads iis:

SI. No.

Heading

Description of Service

Rate

99

2201

Water |other than aerated, mineral, distilled, medicinal, ionic, battery, de- mineralized and water sold in scaled container]

Nil

6.17. Therefore, it is amply clear that, water recovered out of the effluent treatment process nothing but an ordinary water which is suitable for reuse by the dyeing and bleaching units as a solvent and as a washing, rinsing medium. Thus, it aptly fits into SI. No. 99 of Notification No. 02/2017, CT (Rate), dt.28.06.2017 under the heading 2201 rather than Sl.No.24 of Notification No. 01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 under the same heading 2201.

6.18. As per Circular No. 179/11/2022, dated 03.08.2022, issued by Ministry of Finance, regarding applicability of GST on various goods and services, it has been clarified that treated sewage water attracts Nil rate of tax. The relevant portion of the Circular stated supra, is as under:

"5. Treated sewage water attracts Nil rate of GST:

5.1. Representations have been received seeking clarification regarding the applicable GST rate on treated sewage water. Treated sewage water was not meant to be construed as falling under "purified" water for the purpose of levy of GST.

5.2.In general, Water, falling under heading 2201, with certain specified exclusions, is exempt from GST vide entry at. SI. No. 99 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28th June, 2017.

5.3. Accordingly, it is hereby clarified that supply of treated sewage water, falling under heading 2201, is exempt under GST. Further, to clarify the issue, the word 'purified' is being omitted from the above-mentioned entry vide notification No. 7/2022-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 13th July, 2022.

6.19. The same analogy is applicable to the case on hand. The relevant entry in Notification No. 2/2017 - Central Tax (Rate) dated 28th June 2017 is:

SI. No.

Heading

Description of Service

Rate

99

2201

Water [other than aerated, mineral, distilled, medicinal, ionic, battery, de- mineralized and water sold in sealed container]

Nil

6.20. In this connection, it is observed that, all the other categories of water as mentioned in the exclusion clause have some special characteristics and specialized uses such as they are used in aerated drinks, medicinal/ health uses, automotive cooling system, sterilization, laboratory application, car battery etc. The treated water in the present case would not fit into any of the above mentioned in the exclusion clause.

6.21. In a similar issue, the AAAR, Maharashtra, in it its ruling MAH/AAAR/AN-RM/02/2022-23, dated 01.04.2022 in the case of M/s. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd., has held that as the water coming out from Sewage Treatment Plant still contains organic and inorganic substances, such as suspended particles, grit, clays, pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. is not pure due to presence of the said impurities and foreign elements and therefore will be eligible for exemption in terms of entry at SI. No. 99 of Notification No. 02/2017, CT (Rate), dt.28.06.2017.

6.22. In this regard, it is observed that the process carried out by the Applicant involves conversion of effluent water into treated water to make it suitable for reuse by the member units. At the same time, the treated water cannot be put into any other usage, as the same is not completely free of impurities, bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms and chemicals.

6.23. The above facts reiterate that the ultimate intention behind the effluent treatment process is to treat the effluent water discharged by textile units to recover water, salt and oilier chemicals consumed during the course of dyeing and bleaching to the maximum extent possible so as to reuse the same without getting it discharged to pollute water bodies. Moreover, ZLD has been mandated by the TNPCB for all the highly polluting industries including Textile Dyeing and Bleaching industries in order to prevent pollution of River water and ground water. Therefore, it is evident that the common effluent treatment plant has been set up in order to comply with the legislative and environment regulations thereby conserving water through recovery and reuse and not to manufacture water or chemicals

6.24. Therefore, we find that effluent treated water is eligible for exemption as per Notification No. 2/2017- Central Tax Rale as amended vide notification No.7/2022-Ccntral Tax (Rate), dated the 13th July, 2022 and the relevant entry is as under;

SI.No.

1 leading

Description of Service

Rate

99

2201

Water |other than aerated, mineral, distilled, medicinal, ionic, battery, de-mineralized and water sold in scaled container]

Nil

7.0 In view of the above discussion and findings, we rule as under:

RULING

1. The classification of treated water to be sold by the applicant is correctly classifiable as per Notification No. 2/2017- Central Tax Rate, as under:

SI. No.

Heading

Description of Service

Rate

99

2201

Water [other than aerated, mineral, distilled, medicinal, ionic, battery, de­mineralized and water sold in sealed container]

Nil"

2. The said treated water is eligible for exemption as per the notification cited supra.

(N.USHA)
Member (SGST)

(D JAYAPRIYA)
Member (CGST)

To

M/s M/s Sirupooluvapatti Common Effluent
Treatment Plant Private Limited
SF NO. 632, Athuazhi Thottam, Sirupooluvapatti Post,
Tirupur, Coimbatore - 641 603                                                   //BY RPAD//

Copy Submitted to:

1. The Principal Chief Commissioner of GST & Central Excise,
    26/ 1, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600034.

2. The Principal Secretary/Commissioner of Commercial Taxes,
2nd Floor, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.

Copy to:

1. The Commissioner of GST & Central Excise,
    Coimbatore Commissionerate, 6/7, A.T.D. Street, Race Course, Coimbatore 641 018.

2. The Assistant Commissioner(ST),
Gandhi Nagar Assessment Circle,
No. 16, Emperor Building,
Indira Nagar, Avinashi Salai,
Tiruppur - 641 003.

3. Master File/ Spare - 2.