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No decision on octroi hike on gold, silver
The standing committee of the civic body in October had approved the proposal to increase octroi on gold from the concessional rate of 0.35% to 3% and fix octroi rate on silver at 1%.
Updated : Jan 08, 2011, 12:27 PM IST
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The general body (GB) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday deferred decision on the proposal for increasing octroi rates on gold by ten times and suggested that the proposal be considered while preparing the civic body’s budget for 2011-12.
The standing committee of the civic body in October had approved the proposal to increase octroi on gold from the concessional rate of 0.35% to 3% and fix octroi rate on silver at 1%.
The new tariff on precious metals was supposed to come into effect after the approval by the GB of the PMC.
However, there was a split in the ruling alliance of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) during the standing committee meeting.
The NCP opposed the proposal, while the Congress ensured approval with the support of opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
The decision had gained importance in the backdrop of the bandh observed by city jewellers on October 1 to protest against alleged defamatory remarks made against them by PMC corporators and officials.
When the proposal was put before the GB in October last, the ruling Congress in the PMC had severely criticised its alliance partner, the NCP over adjournment of the general body (GB) meeting.
The Congress decided to call a special meeting of the GB by using the right of their standing committee members. Independent corporator Ujwal Keskar supported the Congress on the issue.
Based on the resolution of the standing committee and a letter by Keskar, the proposal to hike octroi on gold from concessional rate of 0.35% to 3% and fix octroi rate of silver at 1% was put forth at the GB meeting on Friday.
Surprisingly, the Congress and BJP which had earlier insisted on the proposal did an about turn and moved the supplementary to consider the proposal for the budget of 2011-12.
Though Keskar demanded that a decision on the proposal be taken immediately, his suggestion was not ruled out.
With overt and covert support of all political parties the supplementary was approved and with that the decision to increase octroi was effectively deferred.
