Amid reports of surge in collection of entry tax on vehicles with the introduction of lease system for toll collection, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) Tuesday clarified that neither the state government nor the council issued any order to the lessees to hike the fees especially on Mild Steel (MS) rod.
Addressing media persons at his office chamber, DMC administrator, Moa Sangtam, clarified that the council did not know on what basis the lessees were charging the fees. He maintained that the government has neither made any changes in the rate nor empowered the lessees to hike the fee. “Nobody has authorized the lessees to charge the rate and state government has not issued any order”, said Moa.
In this regard, the administrator cautioned that license of any lessees charging above the existing rates prescribed by the DMC would be cancelled.
Moa also appealed to the public and organisations to bring to the notice of DMC if any lessees were found charging above the rate fixed by the council.
Stating that toll tax rate has been put up in all the check gates to maintain transparency, Moa disclosed that a four-member monitoring committee has been formed to check each and every entry gate/collection point and ensure that collection was done as per DMC prescribed rate.
DMC administrator said the committee would keep vigilance over the DMC urban fee collection on various items by the lessee/contractor in all the entry gate/collection point.
Moa was clarifying to Hardware Merchants’ Association of Dimapur district allegation that entry tax per vehicle for MS rod was Rs 350 for a six-wheeled vehicle and Rs 450 for a 12-wheeled vehicle. However, with the introduction of lease system by DMC, the entry tax jumped to Rs 3,500 per vehicle for a 12-wheeler vehicle (70 MT).
Supporting the decision to lease out toll tax collection, Moa said the revenue of the DMC has increased from average monthly revenue of Rs. 55 lakh to Rs. 67 lakh.
On the collection of taxes, the administrator clarified that the state government has authorized the DMC to collect the tax on 38 items including MS Rod and Tiles. Through the collection, he said DMC could pay salary to the employees and initiate development activities.
Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the DMC and Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) was held on Tuesday in connection with the DMC tolls and urban utilities fee issues.
After through deliberation, it was decided that the old rate of DMC for every items should be strictly followed and those lessees who charge more than the existing rates would be cancelled. DMC has also empowered the public action committee (PAC) of NCD to monitor the activities of the lessees and to bring to the notice of the concerned authority against those lessees who charges more than the existing rates.