Kolhapur traders give a representation on LBT to State Cooperation Minister

Local traders and entrepreneurs in Kolhapur have alleged harassment by local tax authorities in the LBT assessment and renewal of the Shop Act License. Giving representation to the State Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil, All Traders Association of Kolhapur has demanded his intervention in the issue.

After discussion with the traders, Cooperation Minister gave an assurance to resolve their problems in the meeting with the Commissioner of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation and the District Collector scheduled in the first week of January. On the issue of online renewal of the Shop Act License, the minister assured to take up the issue with the State Cabinet Minister for Housing, Labour and Mining, Prakash Mehta.

Shrenik Bingade, owner of Poorvaja Infotech said, “The local body has asked for online renewal of shop act license. However, we are facing a lot of difficulties in the online renewal. The server is down most of the time and therefore, many traders have not able to renew their shop license. The tax authorities have also asked traders to pay the difference in the LBT after the hike in the rates and have issued notices to them. They are demanding various documents to comply with the procedures. They should stop this harassment of local traders.”

The traders have got relief after the assurance of the Cooperation Minister and they hope that their issues will be resolved soon.