Garhwal Post Bureau
MUSSOORIE, 31 Mar: The Mussoorie Traders’ Welfare Association has vehemently opposed the new licencing, registration, and fee structure proposed by the Municipal Council. Traders argue that this new proposal places an additional burden on the business community—which is already grappling with the weight of numerous licences and taxes—and amounts to nothing less than direct exploitation and harassment. Association office-bearers pointed out that traders currently have to comply with a multitude of regulations, including the Shops and Establishments Licence, Food Licence, Weights and Measures Department mandates, GST, Market Fee, House Tax, Waste Management Fee, Udyog Aadhaar/Udyam Registration, Fire Safety Certificate, ESIC, PF, PPL Licence, Uttarakhand Travel Trade Registration, and Home Stay and Lodging Licences, among others. Under these circumstances, implementing a new registration and fee system would prove to be an economic burden for traders and would also adversely impact the local economy.
The Association’s President, Rajat Agarwal, stated that this proposal by the Municipal Council is completely impractical. Traders are already struggling to strike a balance amidst the regulations and taxes imposed by various government departments. Adding yet another layer of licences and fees would not only cause distress to traders but also pose an existential threat to small-scale merchants. The government and the administration must take the interests of the trading community into account and immediately withdraw this proposal. He also warned that, if the proposal is not withdrawn, the trading community will be compelled to launch a protest movement. General Secretary Jagjit Kukreja remarked that new regulations are constantly being imposed on traders, making it increasingly difficult to conduct business day by day. This proposal is overtly anti-trader in nature. The administration must recognise that traders constitute the backbone of the local economy; if undue pressure is exerted upon them, it will have repercussions on both tourism and employment. The traders of Mussoorie have made it clear that should the Municipal Council proceed with the implementation of this proposal, they will stand united to raise their voices through protests, sit-ins, and other democratic means. Traders stated that the municipal administration should understand the ground realities before implementing new schemes, so that a balance is maintained between development and trade.
