The response to the shutdown call by industrialists and trade bodies, opposing the local civic authority's decision to include private agencies in the Octroi recovery team, recieved a good response here with various organisations supporting the stir today.
The 'bandh' call was given by Nashik Industries Manufacturing Association (NIMA), along with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI), Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and Hoteliers Association to protest the Nashik Muncipal Corporation's (NMC) move to rope in private agencies for recovery of Octroi tax.
Commercial establishments, restaurants, grocery markets, cloth stores were totally closed today in main areas including Shivaji road, College road, Ravivar peth and Panchavati localities following the shutdown call.
The bandh was supported by Congress, NCP and several other outfits including BJP's Enterprenuers Front, MNS, Kamgar Hakka Abhiyan, Chhatra Sena, Vidyarthi Sena, Nature Club of India, Yuva Shakti Pratisthan, local hawkers, kiosk owners, Lok Nirman Prakalpa, Matang Ekata Andolan and Ambad Industries Manufacturing Association, which participated in it, a press release said.
The ruling Shivsena-BJP alliance in NMC decided on the privatisation and both Mayor Nayana Gholap and the Municipal Commissioner have refused to cancel it, protestors said. They alleged that industries, enterprenuers, traders and common man will be affected badly due to this.
"A morcha by agitating organisations has been arranged later in the day while people will form a long human chain around NMC to protest the decision," MCCI president Digvijay Kapadia said today.
Meanwhile, a general meeting has been called in NMC this afternoon to take final decision on the matter, civic sources said.
