Mumbai: Wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers across Maharashtra called off their month-long agitation against the local body tax (LBT) imposed by civic agencies, following talks with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here yesterday.
The local body tax is imposed on goods traded and services offered in the jurisdiction of a civic body.
At a meeting of trade associations (of wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers) with government officials, ministers and elected representatives, Chavan detailed the state’s stand on the issue of the LBT.
“We have not set any deadline to implement LBT in Mumbai. We shall take necessary steps only after getting legislative sanction for it with the support of all concerned and after carrying out the required amendments to the law,” Chavan said.
He regretted that the LBT had not been implemented in Mumbai but the agitation had caused immense hardship to traders and the public.
Chavan explained that demands to abolish octroi had been repeatedly made by several trade bodies in the past. Taking note of it, the state had decided to abolish octroi in phases from various municipalities way back in 1999.
In 2010, a similar decision was taken to abolish octroi levied by municipal corporations, through legislation.
Now, barring Mumbai, LBT has been implemented by municipal corporations across the state and they have reported significant growth in revenues, Chavan said.
IANS
