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.