Govt forms committee to look into traders grievances over LBT

Mumbai, May 11, (KNN)   It may not be all over for traders in Mumbai after Supreme Court refused to put stay on imposition of Local Body Tax (LBT) as state government in its attempt to placate the traders has decided to form a committee to look into their grievances.
 
The 15-member committee headed by chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia, will seek suggestions from traders' associations to implement LBT in Mumbai.  The government is also considering increasing the exemption limit for traders in Mumbai to Rs 5 lakh, according to a media report.

Meanwhile, Industry Minister Narayan Rane met president of the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra, Mohan Gurnani and asked him to withdraw the stir.

Earlier, Supreme Court refused the plea of Maharashtra traders' associations to put interim stay on the tax.

The bench, however, asked the Mumbai High Court to decide on their petition challenging validity of LBT expeditiously.

LBT has been implemented in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Nagpur. Plans are on to implement LBT in Mumbai from October.  (KNN)