Traders observe bandh demanding abolition of Octroi

Kolhapur, Dec 11 (UNI) Traders in the city today downed their shutters and observed a bandh here to press for their long-standing demand for the abolition of octroi.

Foodgrain markets, cloth markets, gur market and other trading and business activities in the city's busy Shivaji road area, Mahadwar road and Laxmipuri remained closed in support of the bandh.

Traders association and the Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) called the bandh as part of a state-wide strike call.

Traders gathered at Bindu chowk and took out a motor-cycle rally in the city enroute to the district collectorate office, where they submitted a memorandum to the district collector.

KCCI's president Mr Pradeep Kapadia told UNI that the State government had assured that octroi would be abolished after the government adopts Value Added Tax (VAT). But so far the government has failed to fulfil it's promise, he lamented.

He also claimed that the traders bandh was total and several organisations have extended their support for their cause.

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