The Hindu    25.07.2012

MCC to set up panel to look into trade licence fee hike

 The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will set up a committee to study the trade licence fee structure.

This was decided by MCC Commissioner M.R. Ravi on Monday after he was apprised by merchants of the “unviable” hike in trade licence fee imposed by the corporation.Though the MCC is supposed to hike the fee by 10 per cent once in three years, it has failed to effect a hike for almost 10 years.

The merchants, who were represented by the Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the Mysore District Hoteliers’ Association and other bodies, made their case before the MCC Commissioner who said that the committee would study the licence fee hike and that the elected council would take a final decision on it.

‘Irrational’

MCCI president Sudhakar Shetty said they wanted the hike to be restricted to 20 per cent of the earlier rates and pointed out that the new rates were not only “irrational” but also “exorbitant” and were higher than the fee stipulated by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in the capital.

Eight persons

Later, speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Ravi said the committee would have four officers from the MCC and four representatives from the merchant community.

The panel would look into various aspects pertaining to the licence fee hike. It would submit its report by the end of the week and the report would be tabled before the council, he added.

The Commissioner pointed out that the merchants were not against the licence fee hike, but that they perceived the hike as arbitrary.

• Restrict hike to 20 per cent of the earlier rates: MCCI
• Panel to submit report by the end of the week