Though opposition Congress demanded that the Odisha GST Bill, 2017 be sent to the Select Committee for more deliberation, the House passed the legislation through a voice vote during a special session convened for this particular purpose.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, however, said the state should not follow the model of the GST Council and the legislation needed to be passed keeping in view the requirements of Odisha.
Participating in the debate, state Finance Minister SB Behera said the GST Council had accepted at least seven proposals of the Odisha government. However, its demand for allowing the coal-bearing states to impose a green cess on coal production had been rejected, he added.
"This particular issue may be taken up with the council again," Behera said.
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Odisha, he said, had also demanded that the supply to or from the territorial waters (20 nautical miles from the seashore) be deemed as inter-state supply to the nearest coastal state. GST will be charged on those supplies.
The twin bills will ensure a simplification of the tax administration, while the Odisha Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017 would allow the state to impose VAT only on six items, the minister said.
Behera said GST will unify at least 17 central and state taxes together and products manufactured in the country, including in Odisha, will be able to compete in the international market.
Behera said the Centre would have no right to impose tax on the sale of products and the states would not be able to impose tax on services.
On the Odisha Value Added Tax (Amended) Bill, he said the state will now impose VAT only on six items -- five petroleum products and liquor.
This bill was also passed through a voice vote.
After the passing of the twin bills, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House sine die.
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