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.