Dimapur, September 5 (MExN): Truck owners of Bokajan, Lahorijan and Khatkhati in the neighbouring state of Assam have threatened to block both the national highways entering Dimapur if their demands are not met.
The Lahorijan and Khatkhati Truckers Welfare Society and Bokajan Truck Owners Association issued the statement following a notification from the Dimapur Deputy Commissioner warning against overloading and restricting plying of heavy vehicles. It cautioned that punitive action and penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act would be imposed.
According to the statement, the two organisations have also submitted a memorandum to the Dimapur DC, highlighting its objections.
The memorandum stated that none of the transporters or vehicle owners is happy carrying overload as it has negative implication on the vehicle and goes against the directive of the Supreme Court.
It also alleged that ‘legal and illegal’ taxation that are “beyond the ground realities,” are being collected from the heavy vehicles by the various law enforcing agencies and underground outfits at different designated points and gates from Dimapur entry gate till Imphal.
The organisations said that the ground scenario of taxation in Nagaland when compared to the rest of India is ‘completely different’ as in other parts of the country, the taxation is levied as per rules of the law, “But when truckers enter Nagaland, there are various invisible taxes which the truckers are compelled to pay and are unavoidable.”
The memorandum added that truckers would be happy to follow the circular only if security cover is provided till their destination points, like in the case of government consignments and agencies like FCI, IOCL, NH, Railways etc.
It also pointed out that rise in price of fuel and additional cess imposed on the price of fuel in the form of COVID cess are adding extra burden on the truckers who are overloading in order to balance the expenses.
As such, the two organisations requested the DC to find an amicable solution considering the interest of truckers and transporters before the imposition of the order; failing which, the organisations cautioned that it would be compelled to take its own course of action by blocking both the national highways entering Dimapur.
