Srinagar, May 27: Shehr-e-Khas Traders (SKT) have made a fervent appeal for lowering the proposed Municipal Tax for shop lessees in Srinagar city.
“We have organised a meeting with the representatives of various Bazar committees and trade bodies, in which various issues were discussed and the main issue was the imposition of muncipal tax on traders”, SKT President Bashir Ahmad Kanu said in a statement to Ziraat Times.
“We earlier we were paying INR 200 to INR 400 per year, but now Municipal Corporation authorities demand thousands of rupees as municipal tax”, Senior Vice President Faheem Reshi said, adding, “we are apealing Hon’ble L. G. Sahib, Muncipal Commissioner and Mayor of Srinagar to rethink on the decision of hiking the municipal tax to an affordable level”.
“The fact is that we are not in position to pay such huge amounts as muncipal tax. We will pay the requisite tax but it should be genuine rate or increase of 5 percent to last years”, Gen Secretary
Mustafeez Alakband said.
Chief Spokesperson Arshid Naqash said that they were disturbed that “every government department was imposing heavy taxes on traders but traders can’t be silent followers now”.
“Even the annual fees of food license has been increased. How much can traders bear? We are already in debt due Covid19 etc. So, we are requesting the LG administration to rethink on the decision in favour of traders”, he added.
