Mizoram government is mulling levying tax on commodities purchased online, state Finance Minister Lalsawta said in the Assembly today.
Speaking during the question hour, Lalsawta said, “The state government do not have any intention to stop online shopping even as it has received information that many traders have suffered financially due to e-commerce.”
“We even know that some shops in Millennium Centre, the largest shopping mall in Aizawl were forced to closed down, as their business was severely hit by online shopping,” he said.
However, he said that online shopping spree is one of the blessings of the modern world and the 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, he added.
According to market estimates, total business involved in online shopping in the state is around Rs 87 lakh per month.