Pune, May 8 (IANS): Retail markets in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad remained closed Wednesday after more than 30,000 retailers the two cities in western Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike protesting the Local Body Tax (LBT), an official here said.

Federation of Trade Associations of Pune (FTAP) president Popatlal Ostwal said over 80 trade associations were supporting the strike and markets in the two cities shall remain closed until a solution to the vexed LBT issue is found.

"The governmen is buying time without coming up with concrete action plan to resolve the LBT," Ostwal told media persons.

He claimed that the LBT has more stringent provisions than the previous octroi which the entire trading community in the state is opposing.

Ostwal, however, said that fresh products, pharmacies and certain other markets shall function as usual, but they would join the strike if the government fails to come up with a solution.