We pay most tax, but other cities get better treatment: Mumbai retailers

A customer at a shop selling non-essentials in Dadar on June 1. File pics

After the civic body decided to keep the unlock level unchanged at 3 despite improved test positivity rate (TPR), restaurant owners and shopkeepers are raising their voice against the move. Businessmen have argued that they are being made to suffer despite paying high taxes for the entire year and having high overheads such as rent, salaries, etc.

A restaurant in Matunga readies to open on June 7

Mumbai is currently eligible for a Level 2 relaxation but the corporation decided to not implement it considering the size of the population and congestion. Under Level 3 relaxations, shops and restaurants are allowed to operate till 4 pm and non-essential shops are to be closed on Saturday and Sunday. "Neighbouring cities and other major cities have already given more relaxations as compared to Mumbai. However, Mumbai has the highest taxes, overheads, rents, salary, etc. then why do traders, restaurants and mall/theatre operators have to suffer?" said Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA).

Also Read: Why do hawkers get to operate if we are made to shut shop: Retailers' association

He demanded that the BMC should at least allow them to operate for two more hours and relax the weekend lockdown. Shah pointed out that on one side, the BMC has not given relaxation to shops on weekends and on the other, hawkers are operating in violation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols.

"It is unfair that despite the city fulfilling the criteria for Level 2, we are expected to continue operating at Level 3. For restaurants, 80 per cent of the business happens in the evening and on weekends. Yet we are not allowed to operate in these prime hours," said Sherry Bhatia, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI).

FRTWA said that even as shops selling non-essentials have to stay closed, hawkers are operating without social distancing. Pics/FRTWA

Bhatia added that additionally, they are expected to pay excise and other licence fees for the entire year when the government itself is not allowing them to open for business. "Keeping a restaurant open only during the day translates to more expenses than revenue. We request the CM and the BMC to save restaurants and bars from this danger and allow us to operate till at least 11 pm," Bhatia said.

‘Unburden us of taxes, bills'

"We are doomed this time around if we are not allowed to operate at least till 11 pm. We request the government to do justice to restaurant owners, staff and their families. Take care of the salaries. Unburden the owners of property tax, waive off the statutory fees and excise license fees, don't generate electricity and water bills until the industry becomes completely operational again. We understand that the government has to take measures but it's coming at a cost that we just can't bear anymore," said Pradeep Shetty, senior vice-president, HRAWI.

Asif Jivani sells purses and luggage bags at his shop in Raghuleela mall, Kandivli. He said, "While standalone roadside shops have got permission to open till 4 pm on weekdays, our shops are yet to get any relief. Our union has approached the CM, deputy CM and the municipal commissioner through Twitter, email and other digital media but there has hardly been any response from them."

A Ghatkopar West trader opens his shop for business on June 7. File pic

Kishor Kulkarni, secretary of the Chembur Merchant Association, said, "We can understand the government's concern and don't ask for 100 per cent relaxation. We can manage with Level 3 relaxations but we should at least get two to three more operating hours. Sixty to 70 per cent of our business happens over weekends. How will we survive?" He added that despite shops being closed, roads are crowded by hawkers but the civic body is turning a blind eye to them and enforcing strict rules only against shops.

"When the government imposed a lockdown, it was a blanket ban. Now at the time of opening, it declares some yardstick. BMC wants to be in Level 3 in the name of crowds on roads, which is their responsibility to manage. People gather at roadside markets, not in shops. We will manage crowds and follow Covid-19 protocols, which is our responsibility. Similarly, the government should take responsibility and fulfil its duty than imposing curbs only on traders. We need the CM's intervention before the economy is damaged further," said Mitesh Mody, president, All India Electronics Association.He suggested shifting all roadside markets and vendors to nearby open grounds or to municipal schools to avoid crowds on roads.

11 pm
Time till which restaurants want to operate daily

2 Hrs
Time extension in operating hours demanded by retailers