Municipal Commissioner Shubha B directed that despite holding UDYAM certificates, the traders in Belagavi must now also obtain municipal trade licenses.
On Wednesday, the Municipal Commissioner, Shubha B personally visited the city’s main market areas and localities which includes Kalamath Road and Maruti Galli, to address traders on this new rule.
She warned that the traders that fails to renew or to acquire municipal licenses would face a strict action.
The Commissioner, accompanied by Health Officer Dr Sanjeev Nandre,Assistant Executive Engineer Hanmant Kaladgi, and other officials highlighted the alarming figures that with over 4,000 traders in the central market and in across 8000 traders in the city area are yet to renew their municipal licenses.
She assures that the traders will be provided with the renewal opportunities, but also emphasized that non-compliance would result in enforcement action.
To enhance the process for better results ,the Municipal Corporation has formed 21 teams tasked with both land recovery and verification of business license.
The staff of Health Department have already begun license checks, and during the Commissioner’s inspection, many traders have claimed that they already have UDYAM certificates and older Municipal Licenses.
Moreover, Commissioner Shubha clarified that the UDYAM certificate is only valid for manufacturing units and not for the trading establishments, which must comply with the requirements of the Municipal Licenses.
The Commissioner also stated that “All trade or business activities must have a municipal license, irrespective of possessing an UDYAM certificate”. She also expressed her dissatisfaction with traders using the UDYAM certificate only as a justification to avoid municipal licensing and in the past, this matter has already been a source of debate.
During the tenure of former Health Officer DR. Sanjay Dumgol, the Chamber of Commerce, Belagavi has successfully argued that business holding UDYAM certificated were exempt from requiring municipal licenses. This policy led to widespread lapses in license renewals.
However, the municipal corporation has since reversed the requirement, reinstating the requirement for trade lisense.