CAMIT Delegation Meets Minister Jaykumar Rawal Over APMC Traders’ Issues
Mumbai: A high-level delegation of the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry & Trade (CAMIT), led by its President Dr. Dipen Agrawal and Chairman Mohan Gurnani, met Hon’ble Minister for Marketing & Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Jaykumar Rawal at Mantralaya today and submitted a comprehensive representation highlighting critical issues affecting APMC traders across Maharashtra, with specific reference to challenges at the Navi Mumbai APMC. The delegation comprised leading representatives of the trading community including Bhimji Bhanushali, President of Grain Rice Oil Merchants Association, Pradeep Gala, Mukesh Kuvadia, Dhumal Ji and Uttam Ji, in the presence of senior officials including Praveen Darade, Prashant Patil and Sharad Jare. The delegation extended a warm welcome to the Hon’ble Minister with a shawl and floral bouquet.
During the meeting, Shri Mohan Gurnani briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the structural framework of APMC markets and the longstanding issues faced by traders, emphasizing that in several markets including Navi Mumbai, traders have invested 100% in developing shop-cum-godown infrastructure, while the APMC mechanism was originally intended primarily to facilitate institutional finance. Dr. Dipen Agrawal highlighted that major markets such as Mumbai have historically functioned as terminal markets without direct farmer participation, yet traders are subjected to multiple levies, excessive regulatory controls, and compliance burdens that are not aligned with ground realities. He pointed out that such policy distortions, including unjustified cess structures and high transfer fees, have led to a sharp decline in trade volumes, adversely impacting the competitiveness of APMC markets and the overall agricultural trade ecosystem.
Shri Bhimji Bhanushali stressed the need for immediate rationalization of APMC cess, simplification of procedures, and easing of operational restrictions, while also drawing attention to the severe hardships faced by traders across the state such as arbitrary service charges without commensurate infrastructure, frequent and short-term license renewals causing administrative harassment, delays in approvals for even minor repairs and renovations, and the absence of a business-friendly environment leading to gradual shifting of trade outside APMC mandis.
The delegation specifically raised the issue of excessive transfer fees, which have escalated from a nominal ₹10,000 as per original lease conditions to 2% of transaction value, making transactions unviable, and strongly urged restoration to a reasonable level. It was also submitted that traders are willing to pay fair and transparent maintenance charges for infrastructure upkeep, provided there is accountability and service delivery. The urgent need for redevelopment of the Central Facility Building at Navi Mumbai APMC, which has been declared unsafe and largely vacated following notices by local authorities, was also highlighted as a matter of serious concern requiring immediate government intervention.
Hon’ble Minister Shri Jaykumar Rawal gave a patient and positive hearing to the delegation and responded with prompt and decisive directions to the concerned officials, including approval for a 5-year license renewal policy, resolution of issues relating to service charge notices and liabilities, implementation of deemed permission for repairs and renovations if approvals are not granted within 7 days, and prioritizing the redevelopment of the Central Facility Building. The Hon’ble Minister conveyed that several major issues were addressed during the meeting itself and assured that the remaining concerns would be examined and resolved shortly in a favourable manner, reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating a more efficient, transparent, and trader-friendly APMC ecosystem across Maharashtra. The meeting concluded on a constructive note with Shri Bhimji Bhanushali proposing the vote of thanks and expressing gratitude to the Hon’ble Minister and senior officials for their support and proactive approach.
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