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MLAs for reduction of VAT on construction materials

PUDUCHERRY: During the debate on the Puducherry Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2008 in the Assembly on Thursday, MLAs cutting across party lines sought the reduction of VAT on all construction materials, including cement, to help the common man and also JCB machines as many people from even other States were purchasing these heavy machines from Puducherry.

The leader of the Opposition, A.M.H. Nazeem, said hoteliers were demanding that the slab of Rs. 50 lakh provided to hotels for VAT exemption must be increased to Rs. one crore.

He also suggested that the government give a provision in the budget itself for expenditure towards the annual shopping festival.

PMC MLA K. Lakshminarayanan said the government could impose up to 35 per cent VAT on IMFL and rake in more revenue. Congress MLA A. Namassivayam suggested that agricultural products and farm implements and construction materials sold by the cooperative building centre must be exempted from VAT.

MDMK MLA P.R. Siva suggested that environment-friendly handmade products should be included in the list of exempted items. PMK MLA R.K.R. Anantharaman said the list of items included that are exempted under VAT must be reviewed in six months time.

walkout

Earlier when the session began, AIADMK MLA A. Anbalagan and PMC MLAs K. Lakshminarayanan, Bussy N. Anandu and V.M.C. Ganapathi staged a walkout protesting that the Session had been called just to discuss and pass the VAT Bill.

“There are many issues that affect the people and we need time to discuss about those. Time has not been allocated for that,” they said.

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