The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Good response to trade bandh in Mysore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Good response to trade bandh in Mysore

By Our Staff Correspondent

Trading at the APMC Yard in Bandipalya on the outskirts of Mysore came to a standstill on Friday in the wake of the bandh called by the Association of Karnataka Trade and Industry. — Photo: M.A. Sriram

MYSORE, MARCH 10. The State bandh called by the Association of Karnataka Trade and Industry (AKTI) today seeking postponement of the implementation of value added tax evoked good response here.

Shops and commercial establishments on Sayyaji Rao Road, D. Devaraj Urs Road, Dhanwantri Road and Ashoka Road downed shutters.

Traders at Santhepet, Shivarampet, K.T. Street and other areas too downed shutters.

The Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Yard at Bandipalya on the outskirts of the city suspended work for the day.

The bandh caused inconvenience to farmers who brought their produce from nearby villages.

Most of them had no option but to stay put at the yard with their produce till business transaction resumes on Friday.

Labourers and daily wage earners were hit hard. Even retailers and petty shop owners joined the strike contending that the introduction of VAT entails the burden of maintaining records and documents. Dealers in textiles, jewellery, hardware and electronic gadgets too supported the bandh call.

Traders led by the Mysore Grain Merchants' Association went on a procession from their premises at Santhepet to the Deputy Commissioner, G. Kumar Naik's office and submitted a memorandum to him urging the Government to postpone the implementation of VAT till a consensus emerges on the issue. They said the proposed four per cent tax on foodgrains will hit their business hard. They urged the Government to put off the implementation of VAT by at least six months till the confusion on it is cleared. They feared that that they will be put in a disadvantageous position as many States have opted out of VAT.

"It will be meaningless to introduce VAT in Karnataka if there is no consensus bringing all the States under its purview," they added.

Meanwhile, the Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which supported the bandh call, expressed apprehension over the Government's move to introduce VAT without incorporating amendments to it as recommended by all India trade bodies.

In a statement issued here, the chamber Secretary, A.S. Satish, said the implementation of VAT in such a situation will only add to the inconvenience faced by traders.

"The consumer may have to bear the brunt of an increase in prices of commodities," he added.

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