Maharashtra Govt not firm on LBT in Mumbai from Oct 1: Opposition

MUMBAI: The Opposition today claimed the Maharashtra Government has assured them it won't introduce the local body tax ( LBT) in Mumbai from October 1, as scheduled.

The Government had earlier set October 1 as the deadline to implement the new tax system, being opposed by traders, in Mumbai.

"Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan assured us that the Government has no intention to bring an ordinance to introduce LBT in Mumbai from October 1," Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and BJP member Vinod Tawde said.

Tawde, along with other legislators, met Chavan on the LBT issue in the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

"The CM assured legislators that any decision on the new tax system will be taken only after a thorough discussion on the subject in both Houses of the legislature," he said.

Traders have maintained the fraternity is not against the LBT, but want some changes in its implementation. They are demanding that instead of BMC, the sales tax officials be assigned the tax assessment and collection task.