THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to plug tax evasion by theatres, the state government is planning to introduce e-ticketing in all theatres in the state. The government will also consider imposing entertainment tax for non-Malayalam films, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac and Culture Minister A K Balan told the Assembly on Monday.
Actor-turned-MLA K B Ganesh Kumar raised the issue in the House in a calling attention motion. He said that at present there are no effective regulations or monitoring of ticket sales at theatres. Some new theatres are collecting hefty charges from customers. Also heavy parking fees are being charged. He also pointed out that most of the theatres across the state are at present screening new non-Malayalam movies, as a result of which Malayalam films are suffering.
As a solution to these issues, he suggested introducing e-ticketing and imposing entertainment tax on non-Malayalam films. Replying to the submission, the finance minister said that tax evasion by theatres were quite evident and hence the government was seriously considering e-ticketing to plug it. Already the theatres of Kerala State Film Development Corporation have introduced e-ticketing. Similarly, the suggestion for imposing entertainment tax on non-Malayalam films would be also seriously considered by the government, he said. The culture minister also backed the finance minister's suggestions.
