Pool parlours make way for cybercafes

pool, snooker, billiards the indoor games which rode high on the `entertainment vacuum', with 'pool parlours' mushrooming in every nook and corner, are now sinking in mumbai to make way for numerous cybercafes and other outlets related to computer education. this is not due to a dearth of takers for these games, especially as pool parlours had begun to resemble youth clubs.for hundreds of young players who cannot afford club membership in any of the existing set ups, which charge 50-70,000 as membership charges in navi mumbai and more in mumbai, they were more than social meeting points. several pool parlour owners who have closed shop are reselling pool tables worth rs 70,000 for as low as rs 25,000 in an attempt to recover some of the investment. a few were trying to set up shop at ulhasnagar, nasik and pune where taxation rates per table were between rs 2000 to rs 3000. in navi mumbai, the taxation rate formulated by the government of maharashtra has been rs 5000 per table. the playing charges were rs 50 for half an hour, one third of mumbai parlours which charged between rs 50-rs 70 per frame, (lasting for about ten minutes), informed the owners. initially the parlour owners were reluctant to pay the huge amounts, said officials at the thane collectorate. "this high taxation based on the boom scenario cannot be sustained in view of the present situation" confided some owners. they felt that the government ought to reconsider the taxation rates, keeping in mind that these games involve skill and are not only entertainment. "as the provision for attachment of property for non-payment of the tax exists, we are compelled to cough up lakhs to pay for the tax or simply shut down and suffer losses". reliable sources opined that the steep taxation rate was not helping to fill up the government coffers either. they felt that the tax officials filled their pockets, due to arrangements with the owners who somehow managed the difficult situation. meanwhile, an official conceded that, whether or not pool parlours located within the premises of clubs will be subjected to taxation is a grey area. bombaytimes@indiatimes.com