DIMAPUR OCT 18 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organization (NVCO) has alleged that the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) approving enhancement of taxi fares between Kohima and Dimapur from Rs 100 to Rs 130 with effect from October 1 is illegal.
Through a release issued by its President Kezhokhoto Savi, the NVCO stated that after contacting the competent authority regarding the claims of the ANTA hiking taxi fares between the said routes it was learnt that neither the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) nor the Government of Nagaland itself had issued any clearance-order for enhancement of taxi fares.
It stated that even official files of the RTA had no records to show clearance for the same except the notification dated February 11, 2000 for the revised regional taxi fare from Kohima to Dimapur approved at Rs 85 per passenger per seat.
Basing on its findings, the NVCO stated that the competent authority had not revised after the said approval but till the month of September 2005 passengers were being charged Rs 100 per head (on account of the ANTA’s hike fares).
While sympathizing with the implications of hike in fuel prices, the NVCO expressed regret over the act of the ANTA charging arbitrary fares “which is illegal and amounting to taken law in their own hands.” The consumers’ body strongly condemned the public information made by the ANTA claiming government notification for increasing the taxi fares.
The NVCO while blasting the taxi body for giving out false information and charging illegal fares, also appealed to the public not pay more than Rs 100 per passenger per seat from Kohima to Dimapur and vice versa till further order from the competent authority.
Asserting that it was up to the RTA or competent authority to fix the rate of fares and not associations, the consumer rights body stated that the illegal fares amounted to cheating and a serious criminal offence before the law.
