The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to strictly enforce the trade licence rule in the corporation area.
A trade licence is mandatory to operate business in the corporation area. However, very few traders have obtained it in Sambalpur. To get the licence, a business establishment will have to cough up 1,000 a year to operate.
Trade licence fee is an additional source of revenue for the civic body, said deputy commissioner, SMC, Sudhansu Bhoi. Several development works could be undertaken with this fund, he said.
An official of the SMC said, more than 15,000 shops and commercial establishments are there under the SMC area. However, only 178 shops and business establishments have the valid trade licence.
In the first phase, the SMC has issued notice to around 300 traders, who do not have trade licence, to obtain it. “If they do not obtain the licence, action will be taken against them according to the law,” he added.
To obtain trade licence, a trader will have to provide the detail information about the shop to the SMC. “This will also help us keep a record of the shops and commercial establishments, which are operating in SMC area,” added Bhoi.
