Dimapur, July 7 (MExN): The Government of Nagaland is clamping down on illegal “taxation” by setting up vigilance teams, closing all check gates and setting up more apparatuses to curb the menace.
However, the state government’s action is understood to be limited to illegal “taxation” by “public organizations and govt. agencies” only, as implied in an order received here today from the state administration.
In the order, appended by Chief Secretary of Nagaland Lalthara, the government said a meeting chaired by the Home Minister was held on June 6 to ‘look into’ complaints from the public against unauthorized collection of “money/taxes” by “public organizations and govt. agencies” at “various points/check gates on highways and national highways in Nagaland.”
As part of the preventive measures against extortion, the state government has closed all check-gates in Nagaland, except for the inter-state posts and the one at Chumukedima. Each department engaged in operating check gates are to set up vigilance teams to “check wayward activities by its personnel” at the check gates. The department is to identify the authority to which cases are to be reported, for redress.
All municipal and town councils in Nagaland are to “meticulously initiate proper streamlining of the prevailing municipal administration system like fixation and collection of taxes, fees etc under close supervision of Urban Development department.”
The Public Works Department is to come up with signs and contact numbers to be place at checkpoints declaring the gates as “no cash payment” gates in local dialects, English and Hindi. The signs shall be placed in such a way that they are prominently readable fro a distance in day and night, the government said.
Further, departments such as the Police, Forest, Taxation, Excise etc shall make concerted efforts in manning checkgates to prevent illegal flow of contraband items and criminal activities. Report of the activities shall be furnished fortnightly, the order said.
“Any personnel found colleting unauthorized money/cash/taxes at checkgates, the district head of department shall be held responsible and liable for disciplinary action. Individuals/organizations indulging in collecting any kind of money/cash/fees/taxes illegally will be firmly dealt with,” the order stated.
The deputy commissioners of the districts are directed to strictly enforce the order in their respective jurisdictions. Any violation of this order by the government departments shall be bought to the notice of the government for necessary action, the order added.
However, the state government’s action is understood to be limited to illegal “taxation” by “public organizations and govt. agencies” only, as implied in an order received here today from the state administration.
In the order, appended by Chief Secretary of Nagaland Lalthara, the government said a meeting chaired by the Home Minister was held on June 6 to ‘look into’ complaints from the public against unauthorized collection of “money/taxes” by “public organizations and govt. agencies” at “various points/check gates on highways and national highways in Nagaland.”
As part of the preventive measures against extortion, the state government has closed all check-gates in Nagaland, except for the inter-state posts and the one at Chumukedima. Each department engaged in operating check gates are to set up vigilance teams to “check wayward activities by its personnel” at the check gates. The department is to identify the authority to which cases are to be reported, for redress.
All municipal and town councils in Nagaland are to “meticulously initiate proper streamlining of the prevailing municipal administration system like fixation and collection of taxes, fees etc under close supervision of Urban Development department.”
The Public Works Department is to come up with signs and contact numbers to be place at checkpoints declaring the gates as “no cash payment” gates in local dialects, English and Hindi. The signs shall be placed in such a way that they are prominently readable fro a distance in day and night, the government said.
Further, departments such as the Police, Forest, Taxation, Excise etc shall make concerted efforts in manning checkgates to prevent illegal flow of contraband items and criminal activities. Report of the activities shall be furnished fortnightly, the order said.
“Any personnel found colleting unauthorized money/cash/taxes at checkgates, the district head of department shall be held responsible and liable for disciplinary action. Individuals/organizations indulging in collecting any kind of money/cash/fees/taxes illegally will be firmly dealt with,” the order stated.
The deputy commissioners of the districts are directed to strictly enforce the order in their respective jurisdictions. Any violation of this order by the government departments shall be bought to the notice of the government for necessary action, the order added.
