Nagpur.
A delegation of Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) led by Dipen Agrawal, Convener, FAM Action Plan Panel on LBT & IPP-Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce called upon Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Finance, Government of Maharashtra on 27th November, Thursday in Mantralaya at Mumbai. The delegation consisted of Arun Doshi, VP-FAM, Nikunj Turakhiya, Rajesndra Bhalarya and Mitesh Prajapati from FAM, Raju Rathi – Sholapur, Jhaveribhai Gala – All India Radio & Electronics Association, Jimmy Paul – Thane, Sandeep Parekh – Thane, Sanjay Mehta – Navi Mumbai, Ajit Kothari – Kolhapur, Uday Lodh – President, Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPDA) & Sagar Rukari – Spokesperson, FAMPDA
Dipen Agrawal drew the attention of the Minister towards the pre-election promise of Bhartiya Janta Party to abolish LBT & Octroi if voted to power in State and the same was part of their Manifesto as a result he said traders demand immediate abolishing of LBT & Octroi from State. He also brought to the knowledge of the Minister that traders across the State are upset and angered because of his (Ministers) recent statement that abolishing of LBT will have to wait till GST comes and we seek a clear cut opinion of the States Finance Minister in the matter he said. Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Finance clarified that he, along with Chief Minister and the State Government are committed to abolishing of LBT & Octroi at the earliest and he assured the delegation there is no second opinion on this issue.
He further mentioned three things on which Government is working to abolish LBT. First satisfaction of traders, Second Autonomy of the local bodies & Third matching Revenue compensation through alternate source. He also clarified that he never gave a statement to media that for abolishing of LBT & Octroi, we have to wait till GST comes. In fact he was of the firm opinion that irrespective of GST coming LBT & Octroi has to be abolished from State at the earliest.
Raju Rathi from Sholapur appealed to the Minister to not fall prey to questions of Autonomy and if it is their will then identify a simple alternate which satisfies the revenue target and maintains is uniformity of tax across the State and abolish LBT & Octroi.
Sagar Rukari – Spokesperson, FAMPDA brought to the knowledge of Minister the pre-election commitment given by BJP to reduce taxes on petrol & diesel in the State so as the public at large is benefitted who otherwise is struggling to make both ends meet during this high inflation period. He stated that LBT on petrol & diesel is just 300 crores per year from all 26 Municipal Corporations and due to which petrol & diesel is costly by Rs. 3 to Rs. 6 per litre in all Corporation areas. Minister assured that after verifying if revenue from petrol & diesel is mere 300 crores from all 26 Corporations then he shall recommend to the Chief Minister to consider petrol & diesel to be exempted from LBT with immediate effect.
Dipen Agrawal thanked the Finance Minister for his patient hearing to the submissions of the delegation and positively addressing all of them. He expressed that the traders expect that during the winter assembly session at Nagpur the State Government should ensure that LBT & Octroi is abolished from the State, states in a press note issued by Manubhai Soni,Secretary of the Chamber.
