The government of the northeast Indian state of Mizoram is considering imposition of entry tax on products purchased online, according to the state finance minister Lalsawta, a press agency said.
Speaking in the state Legislative Assembly during Question Hour, Lalsawta said the state government does not intend to ban online shopping, although it has received information that many traders have suffered financially due to growth in ecommerce market.
He said some shops in Millennium Centre, the largest shopping mall in Mizoram’s capital city of Aizawl, were forced to close down as their business was severely hit by online shopping.
He said that online shopping is one of the blessings of the modern world and the state government would not like to put an end to it.
The Centre and other state governments are also trying to find ways to regulate online shopping and tax the commodities sold in ecommerce marketplaces, he added.
According to market estimates, total business involved in online shopping in Mizoram is around Rs 87 lakh per month. (GK)
