Panipat MC collects Rs23-lakh licence fee from 139 traders

Panipat, February 22

The Panipat Municipal Corporation has collected only Rs 23.80 lakh as licence fee from 139 traders owing to its failure to conducted a survey of commercial activities in the city.

The corporation had fixed licence fee ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 for various categories over two years ago.

Sources said the MC was facing financial crisis and the authorities did not have funds to pay to their contractors. The MC had sought an additional budget of Rs 62 crore from the Directorate, Urban Local Bodies, to undertake development works. However, it failed to raise sources of income of the corporation.

Panipat is considered to be the commercial city in the state with more than 40,000 shopkeepers, traders, and factory owners. However, only 139 traders had obtained licence from the MC so far, the sources said.

An official said, “No survey on commercial activities in the city has been conducted by the MC or the government so far.” Anil Madaan, president of the Sanyukt Vyapaar Mandal (SVM), said 42 city markets were registered under the mandal.

When contacted, MC Commissioner Veena Hooda admitted that the MC was facing financial crisis. The Commissioner said the authorities had been trying to increase income sources. She said the trade licence system was started nearly two years ago, but it was not implemented properly. “I will chalk out new plans to increase the MC revenue,” she said. — TNS