The Indian Express 17.04.2013
Licence at doorstep for industrialists and shopkeepers in PCMC area
Industrialists and shopkeepers will soon get at their respective offices the licence they need to do business within the jurisdiction of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The move aims to generate more revenue for the civic body and also help the businessmen avoid bureaucratic delays in getting the important document.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Satish Kulkarni said PCMC had decided to appoint a private agency to deliver licences to the respective offices of industrialists, shopkeepers and traders' community in general. "We have floated the tender for the purpose. Soon, we will complete the procedure and put the agency on the job," he said.
Kulkarni said the agency would be tasked to collect information about the shopkeepers or industrialists who do not possess licences.
"The agency would conduct a survey across the town to understand the problems faced by the business community in getting licences. If the shopkeepers are facing problems in getting the required documents, the agency would help them on that front. The agency is also supposed to collect fees and pay it to the PCMC. It will then help the shopkeepers in getting the licence issued from PCMC," Kulkarni said.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial area has over 5,000 small, medium and large-scale industrial units. Besides, it has around 30,000 small and big traders and shopkeepers. It is mandatory for them to possess a licence to operate in PCMC jurisdiction. The licence is issued by the PCMC after necessary documents are submitted and licence fees paid. For the year 2011-12, the PCMC Sky Sign licence department generated a revenue of Rs 53.45 lakh from the licences. Besides, it received Rs 14 lakh as penalty from those who did not possess licences.
For 2012-13, PCMC has estimated a revenue of Rs 57 lakh.
Officials said considering the number of business establishments in Pimpri-Chinchwad area, the revenue generated from the traders was very low.
"If licences are issued, more traders will come under the civic ambit helping it to get additional revenue," said an official.
P I Varghese, chairman and managing director of Suvarna Fibrotech, a small-scale industrial unit, said units currently operating in MIDC area were mostly old and several of them had proper licences. "The new ones face a lot of problems. If PCMC is going to help industrialists with licence right at their doorsteps, it is a heartening development. This will help create a good atmosphere in the industrial belt, which is going through a tough time. In a positive atmosphere, I am sure more and more industries would come up in Pimpri-Chinchwad," he said.
Subash B, a distributor, said: "While dealing with shops, I have come across shops refusing to stock certain products or trying to hide some dealings. This is because many of them do not have the licence to operate. It is also true that they come across several hurdles in getting the licences. If PCMC has decided to provide licence at the doorstep of shopkeepers, it is a welcome step," he said.
