Public Action Committee (PAC), Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), in a representation addressed to state chief secretary Temjen Toy, has listed out a series of demands on checking heavy illegal collection of money along National Highway (Manipur-Nagaland) as revealed by transporters that have resulted in hikes in prices of commodities and for which consumers have to bear the burden.
In the representation, Public Action Committee convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha and co-convenor K. Gokheto Chophy appealed to the chief secretary to take up the issue with the Manipur counterpart in order to contain the illegal collection along the national highway so as to check price escalation so as to encourage economic growth.
Among the demands listed by PAC to the chief secretary included: complete and immediate stop to the lease collection system under Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and instead only Council staff in uniform and with name tags be deployed to collect taxes.
Public Action Committee held DMC lease system as one of the main cause for “encouraging illegal collection” It said even rates fixed by various departments were also not adhered to and amount taxed were way beyond the stipulated.
PAC also demanded that commodities where GST is not levied should be properly regulated with proper rates and challans to ensure that revenue reached the State exchequer.
It has also demanded that the chief secretary strictly formulate which departments were eligible for tax collection with proper charts and receipts. It also asked the chief secretary to stop collection of money by police and cancellation or ban on cash collection by organisations at check gates.
In addition, PAC has also demanded a complete ban on syndicate system in favour of a competitive open market.
PAC also demanded that the district administration in Dimapur, regulate prices of all commodities at regular intervals while expressing shock that no regulation has been done on prices of commodities since 2012 in Dimapur. The committee held that check gates have become the collection point for many departments including unauthorized organizations who carried out their activities without fear of the law.
It said these collections took place right in front of police personnel manning the check gates and the personnel themselves involved in the racket. PAC said posting to such check gates have become much sought after for obvious reasons.
PAC informed the chief secretary that prior to launching of its ‘Operation Check Gate’ it had sought information from the district administration in Dimapur as to which departments were allowed to collect tax, royalty etc but that till date there has been no response.
PAC wondered what more tax was required after introduction of GST for ‘One Nation ,One Tax’? It also wondered as how government departments could levy royalty on minerals from other states, already taxed under GST?
It also alleged that police at check gates demanded money from commercial vehicles failing which they were barred from entry.
It also disclosed that PAC volunteers witnessed some handymen going to pay police while some drivers tossed money at uniform police at check gates.
Clarifying that it was not against the administration or the government of the day, but against the unabated illegal and rampant collection of money, the committee declared that it would continue to monitor and strive to contain the ills prevailing in the city with the help and support of the government, civil society organizations and tribal hohos.