LBT to be scrapped after alternative is in place: Fadnavis

Local Body Tax (LBT) would be scrapped after an alternative source of revenue for civic bodies is put in place, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here today.
The new tax structure should consider the fact that civic bodies get income.
Speaking at a meeting of municipal commissioners, Fadnavis said that his government was positive about scrapping the tax but civic bodies should have an alternative source of revenue.
At a presentation of implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said that his government is positive about implementation of GST and would convey the state's stand to the Centre.

Meanwhile, Congress slammed the BJP for reversing its stand on scrapping of LBT.
In a statement issued here today, Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant said that the BJP had assured that it would scrap the tax after coming to power.

"It was expected that this would be the first decision after coming to power. Fadnavis has spoken about an alternative to the LBT while Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that LBT would be scrapped after GST is implemented. This is nothing but making a mockery of assurances given earlier," he said.
The Congress had taken the same stand earlier, which is now being taken by the BJP, Sawant said.

"The Congress had tried to find an alternative to the LBT to ensure that civic bodies' revenues are not affected and traders too are put to discomfort," Sawant said.
"The BJP provoked traders to protest against the Congress government and tried to malign its image. Fadnavis declared that the BJP would scrap the tax after coming to power. The BJP did not have interest of traders in mind but opposition to the Congress," he said.