Liquor rates to go up as Government plans to hike tax

Commercial Taxes Minister KC Veeramani tabled the bill in the Assembly to augment the state’s revenue by levying an additional 5 per cent tax on sale of liquor. 

As per the Statement of Objects and Reasons in the bill, the five per cent tax on sale of liquor with retrospective effect from April 1, 2016, will be on the taxable turnover of the intra-state sale of liquors of all kinds for human consumption. 

“The government has also decided to make a provision in the said Act to notify different rates of additional tax in respect of different kinds of alcohol for human consumption falling under the second schedule to the second Act,” the minister said. 

Provision for levy of additional tax on goods was available in VAT Acts of states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh among others but there was no such provision in the Tamil Nadu Act of 2006, the statement said. 

The DMK working president and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin and former minister EV Velu moved special attention motions over electricity and health issues in the Assembly on Thursday. 

Stalin moved a motion to discuss the electrocution of A Chandra on August 8, 2016 (resident of Kolathur constituency) and asked the steps taken by the government in this regard. In his reply, R Thangamani, Minister for Electricity said, “Efforts are on to change the overhead lines underground across the city and the work in Kolathur area is in full swing.” 

Asked about the compensation part, the minister said “Though TANGEDCO provided Rs 2 lakh as relief to the family of the victim, they refused to accept it stating that they will approach the court for more. TANGEDCO will abide by the court’s direction,” he added. 

Later EV Velu, moved yet-another attention motion on the problems faced by the Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital. He complained, “There are no required facilities in place at the institute and it has been suffering from shortage of manpower. Worse still, there is no adequate water supply to the hospital. Such issues complicate the condition the patients.” 

Health Minister C Vijayabaskar replied, “the government is taking stock of the situation and all the issues will be sorted out soon.”

When asked to comment on the freezing of ‘Two Leaves’ symbol by the Election Commission, Leader of Opposition MK Stalin speaking on the Assembly premises quipped that it was an intra-party affair. He added, “DMK does not want to interfere in it. Further, it is a wrong perception that freezing of Two Leaves will be advantage for the DMK in the RK Nagar by-poll.” 

On the no-confidence motion against the Speaker, Stalin said, “I moved the motion to make the people know about Assembly proceedings. The Speaker thanked us and assured that he will conduct the Assembly session to the satisfaction of all members in the coming days.”