Commercial units pay no heed to Amritsar MC notices on advt tax

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 25

A number of major commercial units, including shopping malls, hospitals and brand stores, are not paying any heed to the notices issued by the advertisement wing of the MC.

Implementing the advertisement policy of the state, the MC had issued notices to several major commercial establishments which had displayed advertisements of various brands on their buildings and rooftops. The MC asked the owners of establishments to provide details of the advertisements being displayed on the buildings.

MC secretary Sushant Bhatia said: “Commercial establishments are flouting the advertisement policy in the city. We allow them to display ads of their own brand with proper recommended measurements. But they are displaying third party advertisements on buildings and rooftops. Ironically, no one is paying tax to the MC for third party advertisements.”

Commercial establishments are flouting the advertisement policy in the city. We allow them to display ads of their own brand with proper recommended measurements. But they are displaying third party advertisements on buildings and rooftops. Ironically, no one is paying tax to the MC for third party advertisements. There are several units which have not responded to our notices till date. We are preparing a report and it would be submitted to the MC Commissioner for further course of action. —Sushant Bhatia, MC Secretary

Initially, the MC had issued more than 20 notices to various shopping malls, hospitals and brand stores to provide details of the advertisements being displayed on their premises. Some of the malls and building owners responded to the notices and a few of them even paid the tax.

“There are several units which have not responded to our notices till date. We are preparing a report and it would be submitted to the MC Commissioner for further course of action. We will not tolerate any violation and tax would be collected from them,” he said.

Besides, several other firms which are using MC’s space for advertisements are also not paying taxes. A notice has also been served to the private firm which installed an LED on the Heritage Street here.