BMC to have scanners at octroi points

The Bombay Sugar Merchants Association has called Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to install scanners and electronic equipment worth Rs 100 crore at the octroi collection points to bring efficiencies in octroi collection and reduce corruption as pressure tactics.

They have asked Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh stay BMC's decision.

Pointing out that Deshmukh has given an assurance to delegations of traders few days back to abolish octroi within six months, association's president has alleged in a letter to Deshmukh: "Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's, which is opposed to scrapping of octroi, has taken a decision to pressure the state government and have postponed the decision under a pretext that it has just spent a huge amount on bringing efficiencies in octroi collection."

Deshmukh, who also holds the portfolio of urban development, must stay BMC's decision and stop wastage of tax payers' money.