Exorbitant Trade Licence Fees revised by SMB; Tamal Banik says ‘it’s victory of common people’

Aug 31: Trade licence fees of Sllchar Municipal Board, Sllchar was enhanced with effect from 1 April, 2021 on the basis of Govt. Notification 2010-11 which was not implemented by the then Sllchar Municipal Board. Expressing its view, Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) authorities stated that over a period of 11 years, prices of commodities increased to a considerable extent and expenditure of Silchar Municipal Board has also gone-up. Whereas the licence fees of Sllchar Municipal Board remained same. So in order to minimize the gap between collection & expenditure many steps has been taken-up and accordingly new rate of licence fees has been fixed.

Earlier, after the expiry of the Niharendra Narayan Thakur-led Municipal Board, the Trade Licence Fees was enhanced exorbitantly, which was resented by the business community of Silchar town, especially by the small businessmen. The revised rate was more than the double of the existing rate. Many petty traders found it very difficult even to renew their trade licence after its expiry.

It is in this connection that some trade organisations submitted memorandum to the SMB. Former SMB Chairperson and Congress leader Tamal Kanti Banik along with former Ward Commissioners Atanu Bhattacharjee and Mridul Saha submitted a memorandum in this connection to the Executive Officer of Silchar Municipal Board on 14 July, 2021. Mr Banik appealed to the SMB to revise the trade licence fees so that traders who are already burdened by Covid pandemic does not have to shell out fat fees at this hour of crisis. In his memorandum, he wrote, “Municipality is the guardian of the traders of the town and it is primarily the foremost duty of any guardian to help survive those under its umbrella. As such, I on behalf of the people who survive on business, especially the petty traders, appeal to revise the enhanced trade licence fees and help them in their struggle of existence.”

In an order issued by the Executive Officer of SMB on 25 August, 2021, it was stated that, “On receipt of some public representations to minimise the new rate and after due consideration, a revised rate has been fixed w.e.f. 01-09-2021.” Reacting to this, Congress leader Tamal kanti Banik said, “I thank the Executive Officer of Silchar Municipal Board for giving a serious thought to our representation and revising the rate of trade licence fees which was earlier enhanced by them. It is indeed a great victory for the common public who are already suffering great loss in their business to the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.” It needs mention here that the revised rate of trade licence fees is much less than the enhanced rate.