In the last four years since 2009-10 nearly 12,600 cheques, issued for Rs 43 crore towards payment of property tax to the GHMC, have bounced. Of that, the civic body has been able to recover Rs 33 crore from about 11,000 defaulters through the consultant.

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has taken the lead in making clear which items will come under the local body tax.

Several essential items and goods such as cereals, wheat, rice, flour, pulses, bread, vegetables and fruits, milk and curd are exempt from local body tax (LBT), the civic body has said.

On Friday, it issued public notices in several newspapers to clear doubts. Speaking to TOI, municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said several essential goods are exempt from paying LBT, but many traders are unaware of it. "They are unnecessarily worried that they would have to pay LBT and are protesting. They should see the list of goods that are exempted from LBT," he said.

The civic body has informed citizens that information about goods exempt from LBT is on the website www.pcmcindia.gov.in.

Meanwhile, citizens went through hardships on the fifth consecutive day because of the traders' protest. Citizens complained that vegetables are being sold at exorbitant prices. Bapu Gore of Chinchwadgaon said, "The vegetable market of Chinchwadgaon is closed. People are buying vegetables at exorbitant prices. There is shortage of milk as most shops are closed."

Anand Shinde of Akurdi said that besides facing problems in getting groceries, milk and vegetables, pre-paid cellphone users are facing difficulty in recharging their instruments as shops and general stores are closed.

Nagari Hakka Suraksha Samiti (NHSS) held an agitation in Pimpri against the exploitation of people by traders. Citizens were being harassed by traders, the samiti said. It has demanded that citizens get essential goods. Manav Kamble, president of the samiti, said, "Our organisations will give protection to small hawkers, stall holders and shop owners willing to sell essential goods to citizens," he said.

The traders' association continued their protests in Pimpri outside the PCMC main building. Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Babar and president of the Federation of Association of Pimpri Chinchwad appealed to them not to register for payment of LBT. He warned that the agitation could get violent if the state government does not take notice.