LBT: Traders' strike stares Pune in the face; PMC raids on
Cell members seal one shop, say some owners have not paid tax at all; Traders want drive stopped immediately
Are we going to face yet another long strike on the issue of local body tax (LBT) again? The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) raid on shops for LBT evasion on the second consecutive day on Thursday have angered traders. Their association has threatened to go on strike if the raids are not stopped immediately.
After witnessing poor collection of newly introduced LBT as compared to octroi, the LBT cell of PMC had written a letter to State Urban Development Department seeking permission for on the spot inspection of shops that are not paying LBT. The cell swung into action and raided three shops in Ishanya Mall on Wednesday after getting the permission from the state. The cell carried out the drive in Baner area on Thursday.
PMC LBT cell head Vilas Kanade said, “The raid in Ishanya Mall on Wednesday went on till late night. We found that all the three traders had not paid a single rupee as LBT. We sealed one shop and managed to collect Rs65,000 from another shop owner as outstanding LBT.”
On Thursday, the PMC staff raided Vaishali Sarees emporium shop in Baner. “We found that LBT was not paid at all,” Kanade said.
According to Kanade, 69,000 traders within PMC limits have registered their names but only 30-35% of them are paying LBT.
“Only a few defaulters have responded to our regular notices forcing as to take such a stringent step against them. The action against defaulters will continue,” Kanade said.
Meanwhile, traders’ association is claiming that the ongoing raids by PMC are unjust. Popat Ostwal, president of the Federation of Trade Association of Pune said, “We are supporting the fact that all the traders who are eligible for LBT must pay tax without delay. But we are strongly protesting against any kind of harassment of traders by PMC staff under the pretext of conducting raids.”
“We are taking feedback from traders about the ongoing raids and will be holding a meeting of office-bearers of our association in the next few days. If the raids continue, we will go on strike, ” he said.