Traders form 11-member panel to fight octroi

Ahmedabad, Nov 14 (UNI) Several chambers and trader organisations today met at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) under the aegis of GCCI chief Pankaj Patel and formed a 11-member committee to demand abolition of octroi from seven corporations in the State.

In a statement, the traders said they will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Narendra Modi. They said that imposition of octroi was a retrograde step. They pointed out that when VAT was introduced, the State BJP government had promised the gradual withdrawal of octroi. Octroi imposition is against the Central government's policy of liberalisation. They said that of all states, only Maharashtra and Gujarat were now levying octroi.

Gujarat introduced VAT on April 1 and soon after the government's revenues shot up by 30 per cent, traders said in a statement. They demanded why the government was continuing with Octroi.

UNI MP-VNB KU LS RS2240