Status: cleared
Chennai: Electricity prohibition and excise minister V Senthil Balaji on Tuesday informed the assembly that as many as 15,405 complaints of MRP violations (charging extra over MRP) were recorded during the previous AIADMK regime between 2016 and 2021. Rs 15 crore was collected as a penalty from the erring personnel.
Accusing the opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and AIADMK cadre of attempting to tarnish the image of the DMK govt by creating an impression that the MRP violation is a recent phenomenon, the minister said that the present DMK govt views MRP violation seriously and initiates departmental action against the Tasmac staffers, such as transfers and suspension. “In the last four years, Rs 6.8 crore was collected as a penalty for MRP violations,” the minister said.
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) functions in a transparent manner, allowing all to participate in the online tender process. Total prohibition is the DMK govt’s policy, he said, and added that the chief minister wants to make the state free of liquor and drugs, even though there are some attempts to create an image as if liquor is sold only in Tamil Nadu and the state is dependent on the revenue from Tasmac.
“Just two days ago, I read the reply by Natham Viswanthan in 2011 during the debate on demands for grants. He said it was not possible to introduce prohibition in the state when neighbouring states sell liquor. He also said prohibition will be introduced in Tamil Nadu when it is nationally declared and the states are equally compensated. But this govt has closed 103 Tasmac outlets located near school and temple zones. Another 500 shops were closed subsequently,” he said.
The minister also announced a Rs 2,000 hike in the consolidated pay (salary) for 23,629 staff, including supervisors, salesmen, and assistant salesmen. Tasmac generated Rs 48,344 crore as revenue to the state govt in the financial year 2024-25, while the revenue for 2023-24 was Rs 45,855.70 crore. Of this, Rs 37,323.57 crore was received as sales tax, while Rs 11,020.43 crore was excise duty.
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