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Multiple health licence policy to go?

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to simplify process for traders who have to obtain licences for 132 groups of commodities.

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The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) may simplify the process of obtaining health licences for traders in the city, who currently have to procure multiple licences for 132 groups of commodities, despite these being traded at single premises and being complementary to each other. The civic body, which currently has a multiple licence policy, may implement a one-location, one-licence policy, to the much-needed relief of traders.

As per the provision of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act, traders are required to obtain different health licences for different commodities. For example, a grocery shop owner trading in spices and edible oil has to obtain separate licences to trade both commodities. “We are considering simplifying the process of issuing health licences to traders,” said deputy municipal commissioner IK Patel. Currently, some traders have to obtain eight to 10 health licences.

The AMC is now planning to group commodities to avoid this type of multiplicity. “We have to take into consideration the BPMC Act before framing a new policy,” Patel said. Traders, who currently have to pay hefty amounts for the various licences, will not have to pay for multiple licences under the new policy.

Also, the civic body had stopped renewing the health licences of establishments without building use (BU) permission. Now, following an order of the Gujarat high court, the AMC will renew the licences of those who despite not having BU permission had obtained health licences before 2000. The civic body may also give some relief to traders with regard to payment of the health licence fees, which they are required to pay for seven years. It may give rebates and also allow them to pay the amount in instalments.

Of around 11,000 health licences holders, the AMC has renewed around 2,000. The process of renewal added around Rs3 crore to the civic body’s coffers. The AMC has also extended the deadline for renewing health licences for traders who do not have BU permission but obtained their licences before 2000, to the end of this year.

“This is a welcome move. If the new policy is implemented, it will help traders a lot. It will reduce not only the financial burden, but also harassment,” said Ashwin Mehta of Mehta Sweets and Farsan. Pradip Chona, director of Havmor Ice Cream and Restaurants, said that the AMC should renew health licences for five years so that traders do not have to go through the same process every year.
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