Protests opposing local body tax by traders entered the 26th day. Observing the situation, municipal corporation appealed to the dealers to call off the strike. The corporation stated that the strike is causing inconvenience to citizens.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that it is open for discussion with the traders. Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte, while talking to the media, said, “The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 needs to be amended to introduce LBT in the city. We are still drafting amendments to the Act and rules based on which it would be executed”.
Kunte went on to say that there is a long procedure to be followed before the system comes in force. An approval has to come from both the assembly state and the council for the amendment, before it is sent to the governor body for its nod. It is only then the amendment will come into force.
For now, BMC cannot take any action against the shopkeepers who are keeping their shops closed, as the license and the establishment department does not have any provision to act against them. A senior civic official said that they can cancel the traders’ license for wrongdoing, but cannot force them to run the business.
