They are protesting against Tuesday’s decision of the standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to increase octroi on industrial equipment, spare parts and vehicles.
The industrial fraternity in Pimpri-Chinchwad has threatened to observe a strike for a day next week to protest against Tuesday’s decision of the standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to increase octroi on industrial equipment, spare parts and vehicles.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Industries Association’s president, Suresh Mehtre, told DNA that owners of industrial units oppose the hike. “The PCMC, without taking us into confidence, has proposed a hike in octroi. It will hamper the growth of the auto component industries,” he warned.
According to him, the association has called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue at the association’s office at Thermax Chowk on February 5. “We have decided to shut down all industries for a day to oppose the civic body’s proposed hike. The date of the shutdown will be decided at the meeting. We will not allow the PCMC to hike the octroi rates,” he added.
He alleged that despite mopping up 70% of its revenue through octroi, the PCMC has done precious little to promote industrial growth. “The industries are yet to completely come out of the recession. It is unjust to hike octroi,” he said.
The executive director general of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries Association (MCCIA), Anant Sardeshmukh, also opposed the PCMC’s proposed hike
in octroi.
He told DNA, “Industries will definitely suffer. The additional octroi will naturally put a financial burden on them. We are surprised that two years ago, the same civic body had planned to revise the octroi rate policy, making universal octroi rate of 2%. Now, suddenly, they have proposed a double hike in the octroi rates.”
The PCMC octroi department chief, Ashok Mundhe, told DNA that the PCMC will receive an additional Rs60 crore due to the proposed hike. “The octroi rates were not increased since 2004-05,” he added.
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