Indefinite fast to seek abolition of octroi

Traders, industrialists and businessmen from across Maharashtra have gone on an indefinite hunger strike against the existing octroi system in the state.

They are demanding the immediate abolishment of octroi as Value Added Tax (VAT) is already in place since April last year.

Maharashtra Rajya Jakaat Nirmoolan Samiti, a part of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MCCIA) has orgainsed the agitation at the Azad Maidan in the city.

More than 100 representatives of trade and industry association began their indefinite hunger strike from today morning at Azad maidan.

This include chamber president and Rajya Sabha MP Eknath Thakur, MCCIA's vice president Hemant Rathi, president of Federation of Trade and Industry Associations of Maharashtra Mohan Gurnani, Virendra Shah, general secretary of Federation Retail Trader Associations and Maharashtra State Transporters Association president Prakash Gawali.

The committee has also written a letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in which, it has mentioned that, trade and industry associations have been demanding the abolition of the octroi since seventies and in 1986 then chief minister S B Chavan had announced that the octroi will be abolished but nothing happend.

At the time of implementation of the VAT, state fianance minister Jayant Patil had announced that octroi will be abolished but again no action was taken.

The committee has also expressed it's surprise over the fact that, despite all political parties favouring abolition of octroi, why no decision has been taken.

The letter also points out that Octroi only existed only in India and Ethopia and even the latter has taken a decision to abolish it. Besides this committee has pointed out that the octroi increased the cost of business and it is either forcing industry to shift the base from the state or close down their businesses.