Goa govt collected Rs 3.47 cr entertainment tax

PANAJI: Goa government collected Rs 3.47 crore in the form of entertainment tax during the year 2005-06, Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane told the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

The entertainment tax collected by the government from various theatres has been rising every year with the Panaji-based multiplex run by M/S Inox Leisure Limited paying the maximum, he said in a reply tabled on the floor of the House.

The entertainment tax rose from Rs 1.53 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 2 crore in 2004-05 and 3.47 crore in the year 2005-06. Panaji-based four-screen Inox multiplex, which started operations from November 2004, has been paying highest entertainment tax.

"Rs 58 lakh was paid by the multiplex in the year 2004-05 and Rs 2.17 crore in 2005-06," Rane told the Assembly.

Another two-screen multiplex 'sia', based in South Goa, has been second highest entertainment tax-payer for the state exchequer. The multiplex, which started in November 2004 in Margao town paid 54 lakhs in the form of entertainment tax in the year 2005-06.

In all, 19 theatres were functioing in the state, he said.

"Mamlatdars of the respective talukas have been notified under the Act as prescribed authority to monitor and control the operations of the theatres," Rane said.