The Hindu 18.12.2009
Anxious moments at APMC Yard
Special Correspondent
| Municipal authorities went there to seal stalls for non-payment of tax dues |
STAND-OFF: Traders at the APMC Yard, Shimoga, arguing with municipal authorities when the latter went to seal establishments for non-payment of tax on Thursday.
SHIMOGA: There were anxious moments when a team of municipal authorities, led by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey, undertook sealing of stalls in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Yard here on Thursday for non-payment of municipal tax dues.
It was stated that the municipal authorities resorted to this extreme step when repeated notices served on traders for payment of municipal taxes amounting to nearly Rs. 2 crore had failed to evoke a positive response.
The lack of basic amenities in the yard is said to be the main reason for the traders not paying municipal tax dues while the municipal authorities say that it is compulsory for them to pay them under the provisions of the Municipal Act.
However, the sealing process was suspended for a week following an instruction by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to the Deputy Commissioner in view of the request made by the traders to him.
