Now, no trade licence for shops with ‘sewage leak’

While inviting traders in the city to renew their licences, a Corporation statement said that those trade licences issued by the civic body would expire by the end of the year. “The renewal applications for the financial year 2019-20 will be accepted till March 31,” the statement read.

The civic body also instructed traders to display the name-board of the shops in Tamil, English and other languages in 5:3:2 ratio.

“The traders should check the connections discharging illegal sewage to stormwater drains. Trade licence will not be issued to the traders who have encroached the footpath. Bonded labourers should not be employed in the trade,” the statement read.

The trade licences would not be issued to those commercial establishments that do not include ramp provision for persons with disabilities, and CCTV cameras. As per civic body records, there are 50,885 shops in the city that were given trade licences in 2018-2019.

When asked a Corporation official whether the civic body would take action against traders who fail to adhere to the statement, he said that their licence would not be renewed to violating traders. “We will check the shops before issuing trade licence and issue notices if any violation is found. Trade licence will be issued only after rectifying measures are implemented,” the official said.

Trade licences are mandated to run shops in the city, and the civic body would take penalising action against those shops functioning without one. The trade licence renewal applications are available at the zonal Offices and can also be accessed online at www.chennaicorporation.gov.in.