SHILLONG: The Executive Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has approved the proposal of the Trade department to enhance the trade license fees which will be effective from April 1, 2019.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Executive Member (EM) in charge of Trade, Paul Lyngdoh who placed the proposal during the EC meeting said the administration and the service of the department would also be toned up.
He informed that the last enhancement of fees was carried out 14 years back in 2005 and observed that the revenue generation of the Council had been weak due to the non-revision of the trade license fee structure.
“To make the Enforcement Wing of the KHADC strong, we need to improve revenue generation,” he said adding that the enforcement of the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, 1954 is weak.
The department is working on digitizing the trade license system which has made it mandatory for traders to visit the KHADC and their details will be entered in the computer.
“After the license has been granted, the traders will be issued stickers which they have to display in their shops,” he said.
Further, the KHADC has also identified 31 trade activities which were previously not included in the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, 1954 which will be included in the licensing system of the KHADC.
Asked, Lyngdoh said the increase in the license fee was significant and the range depends on the different kind of trades such as Multi National Companies would see an increase of 150 per cent to 200 per cent.
He added that trade also included services provided by the non-tribals such as drivers as they need to obtain the clearance from District Council and then get the necessary permit from DTO.
Meanwhile, EM in charge of Development, Martle Mukhim said the EC also discussed on the special assistance central scheme released to the district council through the state government.
He said there was discussion on the guidelines to implement the schemes which should be in consonance instructed by the union ministry especially with quality of work and time factor and to complete the work in time.