SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Friday ratified the GST Bill for the implementation of the new tax regime by way of a resolution, but without any discussion.
Law Minister Roshan Warjri moved the resolution and later the House passed it as there were no participants to discuss the matter.
Meghalaya is the 21st state in the country to ratify the 122 Constitution amendment related to the Bill. Besides Meghalaya, four Congress-ruled states – Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Puducherry and Arunachal Pradesh – have also endorsed the Bill.
On September 6, the State cabinet had approved the Constitution (122 amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014. It was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and on Thursday, the President of India gave assent to it.
The State government does not foresee any revenue drop due to the implementation of GST.
Asked why the Opposition did not initiate any discussion on the Bill, NPP legislator James Sangma, who is also the Opposition Chief Whip, said the government did not provide necessary papers related to the matter in time for the members to initiate discussion.
“We have been repeatedly telling the government to provide necessary papers on matters of public importance well in advance. How can we initiate a discussion if the papers are not provided in time,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Taxation Minister Zenith Sangma said a consumer state like Meghalaya will benefit a lot from GST.
“There will be one fixed rate that is called RNR, i.e. revenue neutral rate. All the states are looking at 18 per cent RNR which may be acceptable for manufacturing as well as consuming states and when it is implemented, consuming states like Meghalaya will benefit a lot,” Sangma said.
