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JMB decides to lower trade licence fees

By Staff Correspondent

JORHAT, May 29 - Bowing to severe opposition by traders and also by a ruling BJP ward member Ankur Gupta, the Jorhat Municipal Board (JMB) today decided to lower trade licence fees (new and annual renewal), which the Board had hiked manifold for the current financial year.

The JMB having 19 wards, is run by the BJP having 12 ward members and rest by the Congress.

The traders had earlier alleged that JMB in an �arbitrary manner�, without having any discussions with any organisation or association of the businessmen had carried out a massive hike in trade license fees, which was about four to 10 times in different slabs.

The Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce, the Jorhat-based oldest and leading body of shopkeepers and traders in the region had sought reconsidering of the decision and lowering of the �steep hike�.

Gupta too, opposing the hike in the trade license, had written letters to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner and Director of the Municipal Administration, Guwahati, urging them to reconsider and lower the hiked rates.

Gupta had even alleged violation of Assam Municipal Act provisions by the JMB while going for the hike.

The ward commissioner had stated that according to the Section 79 F of the Assam Municipal Board Act, 1956, the rate of taxes determined under this Act should be notified by the Municipal Boards/Town Committees by issuing a public notice within a period of three months before coming into force.

He alleged that the said procedure was not followed with traders coming to know about it while going for annual renewal of their trade licenses.

JMB Chairman Jayanta Borkakaty told The Assam Tribune this evening that the Board meeting held this afternoon decided to �revise� the rates of trade license fees, both new and renewal, in view of several requests received from the traders� organisations.

He said that the amount of hike in the rates will be lowered and for that purpose another Board meeting will be held �very soon� to discuss about lowering and fixing of the rates afresh.

Borkakaty said out of about 6000 shopkeepers having trade licences from the JMB, about 1200 have already paid their renewal fees as per the new hiked rates.

The Chairman said that the meeting also decided to �adjust� the amount of fees charged more this year from the traders during collection of the fees next year.

He admitted to Gupta�s charge of not informing the traders three months ahead about the decision taken to increase the licence fees.

Borkakaty said a procedural lapse was committed by the JMB as the concerned amendment in the State Municipal affairs law done few years ago was not in the know of the Board authorities.

Gupta has been alleging committing of malpractices in the JMB in recent times and had pointed out the same to Borkakaty by writing letters to him, the Jorhat DC and to the State Municipal Affairs Department.

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