By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 22 May: Traders in Dehradun have been agitating for the past several days opposing any hike in trade licence fee by the Dehradun Nagar Nigam and, also, the mandatory registration for trades that did not come under its preview so far. However, despite very strong opposition from the traders, the Municipal Corporation has proposed a major hike in trade licence fee on various establishments.
Meanwhile, the traders today led a delegation and called on Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal at his office where they strongly opposed the move.
Businesses operating within the municipal limits of Dehradun will soon have to pay significantly higher trade licence fees, as the Municipal Corporation has issued a preliminary notification to revise its byelaws after 27 years. Since the formation of the Corporation in 1998, no changes have been made to the rules or fee structure for trade licences, resulting in ‘low fees’ with many commercial establishments operating outside the licensing framework. The new draft byelaws not only propose to bring all previously excluded businesses under the licencing net but also introduce a steep revision in the fee structure.
Meanwhile, the members of Halla Bol Committee and Doon Udyog Vyapar Mandal today met Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal to protest against the hike in licence fees in the Municipal Corporation. The traders expressed their displeasure over the increased fees and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Traders claimed that, in this era of inflation, the additional fee is becoming a burden for them.
As per the notification issued, Dehradun Municipal Corporation has sought suggestions and objections from stakeholders till 31 May. After considering the feedback, a final notification will be issued, and all commercial establishments will be required to comply with the revised rules and pay the updated fees. The move has triggered confusion and anger among the business community, with many questioning the rationale behind the new licencing regime, especially since most businesses already hold multiple licences from various authorities.
Business associations argue that the new system amounts to double licencing, as hotels, hospitals, clinics, and shops already operate under licences from respective regulatory bodies. They cited the example of the hotels and reminded that for setting up and running a hotel, it is necessary to secure up to nine different licences to operate and questioned how the Corporation intends to override or bypass existing approvals. This sentiment echoes the backlash seen in other cities such as Delhi, where recent hikes in trade licence fees have met with similar widespread opposition from traders, who cite the economic slowdown and increasing financial burden as major concerns.
In this respect, Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal clarified that the revision was long overdue, as the existing rules had not been updated since 1998, leaving many trades outside the ambit of regulation. The new byelaws aim to ensure that all commercial activities are brought under proper licencing and that the fee structure reflects current economic realities. The Municipal Commissioner also added that consultations with stakeholders would be held soon, and the licencing process would be rolled out in phases after the final notification.
It may be recalled that as per the notification, under the proposed fee structure, wedding points, banquet halls, and hotels will face registration charges ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh, with annual renewal fees between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000. Hospitals and nursing homes will pay Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh for initial registration, depending on bed count, with renewals costing Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per year. Private clinics and medical shops will pay Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 for registration and Rs 8,000 to Rs 30,000 for renewal. Veterinary clinics and hospitals face fees of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for registration and Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 for renewal. Excise businesses will pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh for registration, with annual renewals between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000. Mall owners will be charged 0.5 percent of the annual assessed value of the building for registration, with a flat Rs 50,000 renewal fee.
The official sources claim that the Corporation’s move is not unique as similar hikes have been enforced in various municipal areas across the country, where the municipal bodies are raising licence fees and expanding the licensing net to boost revenue and regulate commercial activity. On other hand, the business owners argue that the new fee structure is excessive and comes at a time when the economy is already under stress. Officials have indicated that the final decision on the revised trade licence fees will be made after 31 May, once all objections and suggestions have been reviewed.
Trade organisations oppose Licence Fee hike by Nagar Nigams
Dehradun, 22 May: A meeting was held at the chamber of senior Advocate Vijay Kumar Boudai, at which several state-level trade organisations voiced strong opposition to the recent hike in licence fees imposed by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation.
Advocate Boudai stated that every section of society is suffering under the current BJP government. “The government takes decisions without assessing their impact on the common people. These decisions are being imposed without any consultation,” he said.
Vijendra Rawat added that despite grand promises made during the recent municipal elections, the public and traders are being burdened with new financial pressures without any real relief. “We oppose this at every level,” he asserted.
He further warned that if the government tries to suppress the voices of united business communities, they would be compelled to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their fight.
Notable attendees at the meeting included SN Bisht and Ramkumar Shankhdhar, among others.
