With a view to addressing problems facing the entrepreneurs and traders in the state, a VAT panchayat under the leadership of CM Jitan Ram Manjhi will be organized here next month, according to a press note issued by Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Bon Saturday.

A delegation of BCCI members led by its president P K Agrawal met Manjhi on Saturday and acquainted him with their problem apart from suggesting various ways to improve the traders' condition in the state. "The BCCI members requested the CM to allow plying of vehicles having weight up to 25 tonnes on the Mahatma Gandhi setu apart from relaxation on entry tax on various commodities," Agrawal said.

He further said, "The CM, on his part, agreed to consider the suggestion and reconsider the revised rates of land given by BIADA, which the traders feel are overpriced and not investment friendly."

The traders also requested the CM to reconsider revision of minimum value register (MVR) rates as they pleaded that very high circle rates will increase the cost of the land and discourage industry. "The CM assured the delegation that wherever the circle rates have been increased by over 100%, it will be reconsidered," Agrawal said. The delegation also comprised BCCI members — O P Shah, Shashi Mohan, Mukesh Kumar Jain, A K P Sinha, S P Gupta, Amar Kumar Agrawal, Sawal Ram Drolia and Vishal Tekriwal.