DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (MExN): “The issue of illegal taxation by assorted organizations has been much discussed and many a hue and cry has been raised by civil society and public at large over the years but unsurprisingly nothing has been done by the government to settle this issue. Therefore, Naga Council, once again in the interest of public brings to fore the issue of illegal taxation or extortion by Dimapur based organizations”. This was stated in a press note issued by Vikato Zhimomi Vice-President (Admn) and Joel Nillo Kath, Finance Secretary Naga Council.
Stating that a piece of brick already costs Rs. 5.50, one of the highest in the country and if this is not enough, the Naga Council informed that there are 15 organizations in Dimapur collecting illegal tax on transportation of bricks making a mockery of our government and governance. As per receipts received by Naga Council, a truck carrying bricks has to shell out cash to the following organizations.
According to the Naga Council, not surprisingly the DMC taxes the same vehicle twice, one under Vehicle Entry Tax irrespective of whether the vehicle is loaded or not and another under loaded category for Heavy Vehicles carrying local sand, mix sand, sand gravel, stone chips, boulders, bricks, stone dust, etc.
“Though the undergrounds cannot clubbed with the above organizations, the very fact of taxation necessitates the listing of their names”, stated the Naga Council.
Pointing out that every day hundreds of trucks carry bricks to construction sites all over Nagaland including government office sites, the Naga Council ridiculed that the government itself pays taxes to these organizations and termed this as a mockery of the concept of rule of law. “The public is being needlessly harassed by self-styled organizations formed only with the intention of collecting money. It defies logic that such blatant extortion is being carried out by ‘Government registered’ organizations, with the government watching as mute spectator which is unacceptable to Naga people”, the Naga Council stated.
Moreover, the Dimapur District Administration has been requested that the price of bricks should not be revised anymore in view of the already unimaginable burden on consumers owning to price rise in construction materials.
