PUBLICATIONS TO BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING LBT ON NEWSPRINT

CBD BELAPUR: Newspaper publications in Navi Mumbai will be exempt from paying local body tax (LBT) to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

The order came at a meeting attended by mayor Sagar Naik, municipal commissioner Abasaheb Jarhad and top NMMC officials, following an order by Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik. The representatives from various publications, including Manohar Bist from Hindustan Times, were also present at the meeting.

On October 31, the representatives had met Naik at his Janta Darbar in Vashi, asking for the exemption from the 2% tax that is levied by the civic body. According to them, the state and Centre provide several subsidies to the newspapers in a bid to support the industry and that LBT was against this policy.

With the mayor and municipal commissioner confirming that the order will be implemented, NMMC has now become the first civic body in the district to exempt LBT on newsprint. Other civic bodies including Pune, Pimpri, Chinchwad and Nagpur have earlier announced the exemption.

“Navi Mumbai is fast turning into a major commercial hub and a large number of leading publications have set up base here,” said the guardian minister. “The fourth estate should be rid of the additional burden of the 2% LBT.”

NMMC HAS BECOME THE FIRST CIVIC BODY IN THE DISTRICT TO EXEMPT LOCAL BODY TAX ON NEWSPRINT