Chennai: In the Legislative Assembly yesterday, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration Lokesh Tamilselvan introduced the Value Added Tax Amendment Bill.
It stated: The government is deeply concerned about the severe environmental damage caused by liquor consumption and the glass and plastic waste generated from it.
Improper disposal of liquor containers and inadequate recycling not only pose a danger to wildlife and public health, but also contribute significantly to ecological degradation.
Furthermore, various court rulings have emphasized the state government's duty to reduce such impacts.
The government considers it essential to take appropriate financial and regulatory measures to reduce these adverse environmental and social impacts and to promote environmentally friendly sustainable practices.
Accordingly, the government has decided to impose a tax called the “Environmental and Social Welfare Levy” on liquor sales. The revenue generated from this will be used for related measures.
That is, it is used for the proper recycling, safe disposal, and reuse of liquor containers; rehabilitation for those addicted to alcohol; alcohol recovery programs; welfare schemes for the families of those affected by alcohol addiction; provision of livelihood assistance; and for environmental, forest, and wildlife protection and restoration, as well as for social welfare purposes.
This revenue will also be used for awareness and educational campaigns highlighting the harmful effects of alcohol consumption and the serious environmental hazards caused by improper disposal of liquor containers. For this purpose, the government has decided to amend the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act. It said so.
