Traders call off stir after Goa CM assures concessional passes

PANAJI: The week-long imbroglio between traders from Maharashtra, Karnataka and the Goa government was resolved today with chambers of commerce from these states withdrawing their agitation against imposition of entry tax by the Goa government.

Traders' bodies including various chambers of commerce from Karwar, Belgaum, Karnataka and Hubli met Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today in Porvorim, near here.

After a brief deliberation with the chief minister, traders seemed happy about his assurance to giving monthly concessional passes to commercial vehicles regularly supplying essential commodities to Goa.

"We are happy with the Goa Chief Minister's assurance We are okay with the proposal that concessional passes would be worked out for commercial vehicles regularly entering Goa," Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( BCCI) President Satish Tendolkar told reporters said.

He said that all chambers of commerce representatives who have come to Goa are unanimous in their decision to withdraw the protest.

Tendolkar said that the chambers accept the fact that the Goa government requires money to raise its infrastructure, for which it has a right to collect an entry tax.

"More than financial implications, we were worried about the bitterness that had crept into relations between the states," he said.

Supply of essential commodities including vegetables, groceries and milk was feared affected after transporters as well as traders from Belgaum and Kolhapur resorted to protests since last week.

"The issue has been resolved. The Goa government has already assured a concessional pass system for commercial vehicles regularly visiting the state," Goa Chief Minister Parrikar told reporters in the presence of traders' representatives.

Parrikar said that such passes would be worked out by April 30.

The Goa government has already exempted vehicles from Kolhapur, Belgaum, Karwar and Sindhudurg from paying entry tax since April 15 for a fortnight, when the new tax was imposed.