Chandni Chowk BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Friday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena regarding the increase in licensing fees of various categories of business by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from 20 per cent to 150 per cent in April 2023, appealing to take immediate cognizance of it.

Describing this increase as ‘unethical’ in his letter, the founder and general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) stated, "Business in Delhi is already facing many challenges, in such a situation this increase will break the back of the traders. While this unexpected increase is putting an unnecessary financial burden on the traders of Delhi, on the other hand, the licence fees of very small businesses like paan-pansari, confectionery, small big confectioners, barbers, dry cleaners, etc. have also been increased.”

Further, he claimed that on the other hand, the licence fees of Dharamshala and auditorium used for social work and hotels and guest houses for the residence of people coming to Delhi from outside have also been increased, which is not right.

Khandelwal alleged that due to the uncontrolled increase in the licensing fees of various categories, a large number of businesses and other establishments are shying away from renewing the corporation licence or getting a new licence. “The rates implemented last year are about one and a half times more than the licensing rates applicable in South Delhi Municipal Corporation till the year 2022, which has no justification. This is an additional financial burden on Delhi's trade which has no basis, therefore, attention should be paid to this issue and this increase should be withdrawn to provide relief to all small and big traders of Delhi,” he stated.