Belgaum-Kolhapur trade resumes as CM assures relief
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 16 April 2013 16:59 IST
Belgaum & Kolhapur traders meet Sudin Dhawalikar
Transporters from Belgaum and Kolhapur have decided to resume supply of essential commodities to Goa as chief minister Manohar Parrikar has assured to charge entry tax at concessional rates to the regular transporters after a week.
This was announced after the delegation from Belgaum and Kolhapur today afternoon met Parrikar in this regard, along with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mangirish Pai Raikar.
Earlier, they also met PWD minister Sudin Dhawalikar and discussed the issue threadbare.
They have directed the transporters in Belgaum to leave their vehicles, which were held up in the market, as Parrikar assured to exempt them from charging entry tax until the solution is worked out within a week.
Kolhapur would also continue its supply which they had planned to stop from tomorrow.
“Chief minister has assured us to work out an amicable solution within a week, with financial relief to regular transporters”, said G R Shanmugappa, president of All India Motor Transport Congress.
“We are happy that he has understood our problem”, said Satish Tendolkar, president of the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A Panchapure, Secretary of Belgaum Motor Owners Association also clarified that the vegetable supply would not be stopped as we have received firm assurance from the chief minister.
AIMTC President Subhash Jadhav however warned that the supplies would be stopped once again if the same amount of entry tax is imposed after eight days.
PWD minister Sudin Dhawalikar had already assured the House yesterday not to impose entry tax on regular transporters until a monthly pass system with concessional rates is worked out for the regular transporters.
Goa gets most of its supply of essential commodities like vegetables, fruits, milk, grains, chicken, eggs etc from Belgaum and Kolhapur.
Goa has started charging entry tax of Rs 500 for a tempo and Rs 1000 for a truck, besides Rs 100 for three-wheelers and Rs 250 for four-wheelers.
As major revenue generation has hit Goa due to mining ban, the tourist state plans to raise Rs 100 crore through entry tax.
