Wed Jan 08 16:24:16 UTC 2025: ## Coimbatore MSMEs Burdened by Multiple Levies, Claim Industry Associations
**Coimbatore, January 8, 2025** – Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Coimbatore are facing increasing pressure due to multiple levies imposed by the Coimbatore Corporation, according to industry associations. Over the past two weeks, numerous MSMEs have reported visits from Corporation “temporary staff” demanding payment of trade licence fees, professional tax, and garbage fees, often with varying and seemingly arbitrary amounts cited.
J. James, president of the Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises (TACT), alleges harassment and an unsustainable burden on already struggling businesses. He cites an example where one unit was asked to pay ₹2,500 for a six-month trade licence. The high electricity costs and low profit margins, coupled with the additional levies, threaten to stifle the Coimbatore industry, according to James. TACT plans to meet the Corporation Commissioner after Pongal to address these concerns.
Similar complaints have been raised by C. Natarajan, president of the Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Welfare Association (COSIEMA). COSIEMA has also advised its members to await a planned meeting with the Corporation Commissioner. Individual MSME owners report being pressured to make immediate payments with inadequate prior notice or explanation.
While field-level Corporation officials have stated they will investigate the issue, the concerns raised by the industry associations highlight a growing crisis for Coimbatore’s MSMEs, who are demanding clearer communication and a more manageable system of levy collection.
First Piper 