With GST to be enforced in two months, officials evade Octroi to make money

With GST set to be rolled out in two months, civic standing committee members on Wednesday have alleged that civic officials have tried to evade octroi at all five checkpoints to make money. The members claimed that officials involved in Octroi evasion were causing huge losses to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Council.

Congress leader Ravi Raza raised the issue during the civic standing committee meet, alleging that civic officials are leaving the civic body with no options to make money from octroi. "I have already written to civic chief and mayor regarding involvement of officials in Octroi evasion in the first week of April," said Raza, adding that the administration has not yet taken action against the erring officials.

Congress corporator Pramila Pawar intercepted around eight overspeeding trucks and on enquiry, she found that the trucks laden with goods worth over Rs 4 crore entered in the city without paying octroi.

"She informed the civic body's vigilance unit and octroi officials. However, the civic administration has neither taken action nor investigated how the trucks enter the city without paying octori," said Raza.

The standing committee chairman Ramesh Korgaonkar has asked the administration to start an investigation into the octroi evasion allegations, and take strict action against officials involved.