IIA to file PIL against the UP govt

The Indian Industries Association, a representative body of small and medium industry, is planning to file a PIL against theUP government in the Allahabad High Court, demanding that Kanpur's share of the trade tax collection should be given to it annually, as was decided at the time of the abolition of octroi in 1989.

During the annual general meeting, IIA State President Tarun Khetrapal said when the octroi was abolished in 1989, a notification was issued that 25 per cent of the trade tax collection from a particular city will be given back to it for its development.

But this has never been done for Kanpur. He said annual collection of trade tax in Kanpur was Rs 2,500 crore, therefore it should get back Rs 600 crore annually. However, the city was getting only Rs150 crore annually.

The meeting was convened to discuss development of the city and the two major fairs which were being organised by the IIA in the first week of February in Lucknow, one on Food Expo and the other UP Ind Expo.

The IIA is organising the fourth India Food Expo and the second UP Industrial Expo. Khetrapal said 50 per cent of those, who had set up stalls at the exposition earlier, had already applied this year too.

About the state food processing industry he said in the last four months 688 new units of agri-processing were registered and 339 units were participating in the fair.