The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will soon begin crackdown on business and commercial establishments without a valid trade licence.
MCC officials will launch a comprehensive inspection of all business and commercial establishments in the city from December 15. If a valid trade licence is not produced, the establishments will not only be sealed but action will be taken under provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath has warned.
It has come to the notice of the civic body that several establishments were functioning without either obtaining a trade licence or renewing it. “This was in violation of Section 353 of the Act, and was causing financial loss to the city corporation,” Dr. Betsurmath said.
He urged traders to approach the zonal office and obtain a licence by filling up the stipulated forms and remitting the fees. Traders can also renew their licence at the zonal offices, he added.
Meanwhile, MCC official Sudha M.V. said that revenue officials of nine divisions of the city corporation have been instructed by the Commissioner to prepare a revised list of traders in their respective division.
Though the number of trade licences issued during 2013-14 was 23,600, MCC health officer Ramachandra said the number of commercial and business establishments in the city had increased substantially. The exact number will be known only after the list is completed, he said.
Sources in the civic body added that the MCC’s trade bylaw had stipulated different amounts of fee for different establishments like shops, hotels, and provision stores. “There was also a provision for advance payment of licence fee for three years and five years,” sources said.
Meanwhile, Mysore Industries Association general secretary Suresh Kumar Jain urged the corporation to exempt industries at Yadavgiri Industrial Area, Mysore Industrial Suburb, the cluster of industries in Bannimantap, and the handicraft shops in Mandi Mohalla, from obtaining the licence.
He said the New Industrial Policy for 2014-15 announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had exempted industries in industrial townships from obtaining a trade licence.
“Industries are already paying the licence fee to government agencies like the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, and the Department of Factories and Boilers. The officials of these agencies carry out inspections for pollution, proper functioning of machinery, and other activities,” Mr. Jain said.
