Ward councillors are up in arms against the civic body’s recent decision to impose a licence fee of Rs 2,000 on all shop owners, small or big.

The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has framed guidelines under Bihar Shops and Establishment Act according to which it is mandatory for shop owners, including street vendors, to have a trade licence. While street vendors would get a free trade licence, all shop owners irrespective of their establishment have to pay Rs 2,000 to get one. (See graphic)

Proposals in regard of the guidelines would be floated for approval in the next meeting of the PMC’s empowered standing committee. The meeting is scheduled on August 30.

Some ward councillors are opposed to the civic body’s move to ask for Rs 2,000 from shop owners of all nature. Sources said the opposition stems from the backlash the ward councillors expect from their votebank in case the proposal is implemented.

Former deputy mayor and councillor, ward number 28, Vinay Kumar Pappu said: “According to PMC’s decision, shopkeepers — small or big — have to shell out Rs 2,000 for acquiring trade licences. I am against this decision. I am not saying the PMC has done wrong by asking money for trade licences but the fee to acquire it should be different for the small and big traders. Those with a monthly turnover of Rs 10 lakh are supposed to give Rs 2,000 for acquiring the licence as are those with a monthly turnover of Rs 20,000 or less. Is this a joke for the PMC? How can the fee be same for small and big traders?”

Sanjay Singh, councillor, ward number 1, echoed Pappu. “The PMC has not provided the basic amenities to the residents but every other day, it is coming up with some new kind of tax or the other. The ward councillors would have to face the wrath of the people.”

Gopal Prasad, a grocery store owner with a shop on SP Verma Road, said: “The PMC has always made tall claims of providing amenities to the people, but it has failed to do so. Now it has got another weapon in the trade licence to harass the people. For small shopkeepers like me, Rs 2,000 matters very much.”

The Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries is also opposed to the civic body’s proposal to ask of the same licence fee from all shop owners. “Traders already have to pay commercial taxes under the Bihar Tax on Professions, Trades and Calling Employment Act 2011. Apart from this, they also have to pay holding tax, sales tax, entry tax and others to register themselves in the state. Under the different acts, they already pay Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500. So, the Bihar Shops and Establishment Act would be an added burden,” said P.K. Agrawal, president, Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries.