NASHIK: A day after a delegation of industrialists from Nashik were told by the secretary of the urban development department of the state government that the local body tax (LBT) would be introduced from July, political parties and the administration, including some traders, voiced their opposition.
Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials have pointed out many loopholes in the collection of the LBT. "People would evade LBT or pay less by showing less turnover. Moreover, our inspectors will have to go to their doorsteps to check their documents, registers, receipts, etc.," said an official.
Ajay Boraste of the Shiv Sena said, "Octroi is the main reason why Nashik developed the way it did for so long. LBT cannot be an alternative to octroi. We are expecting more than Rs 600 crore revenue from octroi. If the state government gives assurance that LBT can fetch us Rs 600 crore, then we are ready for LBT." He said that LBT is another form of tax like house tax, water cess, etc. "Our experience is that the revenue generated from house and water taxes is always less. It is difficult to understand the role and policy of the government in this," he said.
Dinkar Patil of the Congress said that there was no need to have LBT or privatization of octroi collection. "The NMC has started with octroi collection, let them do it. LBT is even more dangerous than privatisation of octroi. Who will pay LBT sincerely? The people who are advocating LBT are wrong. I strongly oppose it," said Patil.
Seema Hiray of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the decision of whether to implement LBT or not will depend on the decision of her party. "With LBT we will be getting lesser revenue than octroi. This policy is not right. It needs to be discussed in the general body meeting," she said.
City chief of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said, "A policy decision needs to be taken on the issue in the general body meeting. Even if LBT is enforced, the revenue should not be less. But there are loopholes in LBT. NMC would be in loss. I feel that if privatisation has been cancelled and the NMC has shown readiness to collect octroi then they should be allowed to do it. It was decided by the government that till the projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission is completed octroi be collected. I feel that at least for a year octroi be collected or at least till the NMC becomes financially stable."
Shashikant Jadhav of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena feels that it is important to alert the citizens about LBT and for the NMC to study it well . "I don't think the citizens will accept it so easily. The MNS has kept its word and has accepted the proposal of the industrialists, now by going to the chief minister they have shown their opposition for MNS. LBT has many loopholes and the NMC will lose revenue. For a couple of years more octroi shuld be collected and maximum revenue collected so that when central government cancels octroi we wont have problems," he said.
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CA.C.V.PAWAR
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