Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (SS)

Bengaluru, Sep 14: BJP leader D S Arun has demanded the abolition of law related to the trade licence and licence renewal fee. He said the state collects Rs 21 crore from trade licence and renewal of licence but the process of recovering it has resulted in corruption deals running to Rs 250-300 crore.

Raising this issue during the question hour on Tuesday, he said a fee is levied in city corporations on turnover of industries and businesses. The state collects Rs 21 crore on renewal of licences. But, to realise this amount he alleged there is a lot of corruption running into crores of rupees. He wondered if there was a necessity in levying a fee on trade licence and its renewal when the industries and businesses are levied professional taxes and GST.

Responding to this, urban development minister B A Basavaraj Byrathi said permits and renewal of permits have been computerised and there is little opportunity for corruption. He said if specific instances of corruption were brought to his notice, he would take suitable and firm action against such acts.