BMC suffers losses due to Octroi agents' strike

Mumbai, Mar 17 (UNI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today suffered heavy losses following a flash strike by 450 licensed Octroi agents since last night.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Manukumar Srivastav told reporters here that the officers of the corporation collect Rs 50 lakh daily from importers at the three Check Nakas in the metropolis. However, the daily Octroi collection was around Rs 8-9 crore today. Talks with recognised agents are in progress, Mr Srivastav said.

The agents are anguished over the demand of the Corporation that they should give the octroi amount by demand draft or cash instead of cheque, Mr Srivastav said.

The agents also demanded the release of 144 trucks, which were seized by the corporation during the checking drive.

The corporation refused to fulfill their demands following which they went on a flash strike since last midnight.

The corporation has deployed 15 officers each at three Check Nakas -- Vashi, Mira-Bhyander and Mulund, to collect revenue and monitor the situation, Mr Srivastav added.

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