Few traders coming forward to renew license

Although there are over four lakh traders in the city and there are laws to bring them under the same roof, the traders are still not worried about it at all.
Recently, the BBMP had started a one month long trade license drive and given a chance to renew the trade licenses to avail new trade licenses. But, so far only 47,000 trade licenses including new and renewed were issued against the target of four lakh.

So far only 42,332 traders have renewed the trade licenses and it has generated Rs 17.05 crore revenue to the palike. Over 2,090 traders have opted for new trade licenses under the BBMP and paid Rs 1.15 crore as license charge while the 264 new online applicants have paid Rs 10.64 lakh of license fee.

The BBMP, after starting of the trade license drive in 198 wards, only 2,647 trade license are issued collecting Rs 49,68,204 of license fee. A senior officer with the health department told dna that there are over four lakh traders in the city and very few are coming forward to renew licenses. During the drive, the officials have encouraged the traders in getting licenses and warned of legal actions.

Dr Nirmala Buggi, senior officer from the health department said,"We are planning to extend the drive and having discussions with the mayor and the commissioner of the BBMP." BS Sathyanarayana, Mayor, BBMP told dna,"We have already planned to extend the trade licensing drive till October. We have even started getting response from online applicants, so we will complete the target in extended time."