BMC Tax on Dharna: Commissioner contradicts Mayor

ONI Bureau: Under fire from several quarters, the Bhubaneswar Muncipal Corporation (BMC) has made a u-turn and said no decision has been taken to impose tax on dharna and agitation in the capital city.

BMC Commissioner Krishan Kumar contradicted Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, saying they had written to Commissionerate Police only to put restrictions on the use of plastic.

Earlier, the civil society members, political parties including BJP and many other organisations had demonstrated against the retrograde decision of the BMC and sought an immediate rollback.

BMC Mayor had earlier announced that agitators sitting on dharna in Bhubaneswar will have to pay minimum Rs 500 per day and Rs 1000 per day for conducting dharna of 100 to 500 persons. Similarly, for conducting functions and wedding/religious procession, the organisers shall deposit Rs 5,000 per day towards sanitation charges.