Ensure level playing field for sellers, TN tells Centre

Tamil Nadu today reiterated its demand before the Centre that sales made through online portals be reported to the commercial taxes department to ensure a level playing field for traders.
"Tamil Nadu had already raised the issue with the Centre as sales through e-commerce portals were not properly reported to the commercial taxes department," Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said at the 27th Southern Zonal Council meet in Thiruvananthapuram.
His speech was read out in absentia by State Forest Minister 'Dindigul' C Srinivasan.
It was released to the media by the state government here.
The Chief Minister said there was a need to maintain parity in the application of tax and other regulatory laws between e-commerce entities and brick-and-mortar shops to maintain a level playing field among traders.

On Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail, he asked the Centre to take "appropriate legal provisions" so that there was no FDI through the e-commerce route, either "directly or indirectly".

On frequent attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, including the latest in which 51 fishermen and 114 boats are still under their custody, he requested the government to abrogate the 1974 agreement and retrieve Katchatheevu islet and restore the traditional rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
For safety of fishermen, the state government is in the process of implementing Very High Frequency (VHF) based seamless communication network with World Bank funding.

"All coastal districts of Tamil Nadu will be covered with 15 VHF towers and VHF sets provided for motorised and mechanised boats. We request Government of India to expeditiously grant the operating licences," he said.
Stating that government directly transfers scholarship amounts to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, he said that as on date, Rs 2,019.09 crore is still to be reimbursed by both Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the Tamil Nadu government.
On Jallikattu (bull taming sport), he said the Centre should take steps to denotify it from the list of performing animals under the Environment Ministry notification.

"Further, Section 11(3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 should be amended to specifically exempt Jallikattu, in addition to the other exemptions already provided in the Act," he said.
On the issue of land jointly acquired by the Centre and state governments, he requested that the land brought for all such projects be treated as equity contribution of the respective governments.
"The entire cost of the land brought by the state governments should be included in the project cost to ensure fair valuation of the contribution made by respective governments," he said.