VIJAYAWADA: In view of severe criticism from various quarters over the hike in the `Dangerous & Offensive (D&O) trade licence fees, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Friday asserted that it had not enhanced the fees.

"We are collecting the D&O trade licence fees as per the schedule of rates prepared after zoning system was introduced in 2001. It can't be treated as a hike in the licence fee," said VMC additional commissioner G.P. Neelakantham at a press conference, which he jointly addressed with chief medical and health officer K. Srikaruna Murthy.

Mr. Neelakantham said the D&O trade licence fee was not being collected as per the schedule of rates till now. The traders were paying the licence fee by following a fee structure that was in vogue prior to the implementation of the zonal system.

For instance, Shankar Lodge situated in Bhavanarayana Street in One Town was supposed to pay Rs. 27,880 as per the schedule of rates followed in the zonal system. But, the lodge management had paid Rs. 4,310 under the old system, he said, adding: "We are collecting the difference of Rs. 23,570."

Mr. Neelakantham said the corporation had collected D&O licence fee of Rs. 1.10 crores till date as against Rs. 1.05 crores last year.

The corporation would get Rs. 1.66 crores as D&O fee for the year 2007-08, he added.

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