<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Government has appointed a senior IAS officer to coordinate import of COVID-19 relief items. An official statement today said, Dr Harshdeep Kamble, Development Commissioner of Industries, has been appointed as the nodal officer for this work by the state government.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The statement said the nodal officer would issue the authorisation certificate for import of COVID relief items after verification of certificate of registration of the organization, invoice or purchase bill, packing list, cargo details and declaration of the donor.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It asked concerned persons to email their applications at <a href="mailto:didci@maharashtra.gov.in" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">didci@maharashtra.gov.in</span></a>. The goods can be imported free of cost and authorised to distribute free anywhere in India. It added that the importer shall, before clearance of goods from the Customs produce a certificate from the nodal authorities that the goods are meant for free distribution for COVID relief.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The statement said the Central government has decided to grant exemption in IGST to facilitate import free of cost for COVID relief by a state government or any entity, relief agency or statutory body authorised in this regard by any state government. Following which, the state government decided to drive the maximum impact of this administrative initiative and to ensure the seamless flow of assistance to mitigate suffering during the pandemic.</span><br />''  <br />