20 December,2010 08:13 AM IST | | Madhusudan Maney
Plug this leak: The civic body has been losing crores every year, for the past couple of decades from trade license fees. FILE PIC
Though there are more than 5 lakh traders in Bangalore under BBMP limits, only 40,000 traders have obtained trade licences. Last year, the income from these traders in licencing fee was around 17 crore. But this year the BBMP expects to collect more than Rs 200 crore.
The BBMP is worried about the small-scale industries and software establishments as the major money is collected from these establishments. These establishments used to escape by giving representations to the government saying that they don't get covered under this.
But now BBMP Commissioner H Siddaiah has taken it very seriously and has instructed officials to collect the fee and issue licences tou00a0 every trader.
Zero tolerance
Deputy Commissioner (Health and Advertisement) Ramachandra Murthy said, "Now each and every trader has to pay the license fee, and that includes even barber shops.
We don't get much money from small traders, but if every one pays including the big industrialists, we'll make a lot of money. We can then put this money into developing Bangalore's infrastructure."
BBMP now has planned to have a centre at its head office so to get a license on the spot. "This is because some traders alleged that in spite of paying money they have not been given the licences.
We will also be printing handbills and distribute them zone wise for more awareness," says Ramachandra Murthy.
The BBMP has started collecting fine amount from those who have not paid the fee since years.
But from next February, they have to pay the nominal fee prescribed by the BBMP according to the trade and total area.
The drive is being conducted in each zone. "Around 1,500 trade licenses have been issued in the last two to 3 months in Bangalore south zone, and a sum of Rs 60 lakh has been collected. We are going to each and every shop. Seems like they were aware that they should have a licence," said Dr Lokesh, Health Officer, South zone.
Around 11,000 licences have been issued in the east zone, and the remaining 10,000 for commercial properties would be issued by January, and Rs 2.3 crore have been collected in this zone. The BBMP is conducting a survey in some of the areas to get the correct figures of existing commercial properties.
