Kohima, November 13 (MExN): An Enquiry Committee meeting with Kohima District Truck Owners and Drivers’ Union (KDTODU), Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization (NVCO), Senior SP Kohima/Rep, Divisional Forest Officer Kohima, Assistant Commissioner, Excise and Prohibition, Kohima, Administrator KMC/Rep was held on November 4 at the Office of Deputy Commissioner, Kohima.
The Committee was constituted on October 23 by the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima to check the illegal collection of cash at check gates and highways in and around Kohima based on complaints received on September 19 from KDTODU.
The Enquiry Committee consisted of ADC Chiephobozou & Convener, SDO (Civil) Sardar, Kohima & Member Secretary, SDO (Civil), Jakhama Member & SDO (Civil), Zubza Member. As per a press release from Press & Media Cell, NVCO, the meeting was convened by the Convener, Enquiry Committee and every department presented their report.
President of NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate in his presentation appreciated the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima for constituting an Enquiry Committee. He highlighted the complaint/representation submitted by KDTODU where the Union has listed “illegal collection of cash” at the check-gates and on highways with amount enclosed with some of the receipts.
1. Khuzama Police Check-Gate: Nagaland Police – Rs 500 plus on six wheelers truck & others; Narcotic/Excise – Rs 200 to Rs 300 plus.
2. Kehorü, Jakhama: Surface Transport, Eco & Environment Society – Rs 100 & Rs 50 (going empty), Registration No H/RS-5605 dated 16/09/2009; Above Loyola Higher Secondary School, Jakhama – Petroleum & Land Transport Workers Federation of India(PLTWFI) Govt. Regd. No. RTI 1445/94 HQ Beltola: Guwahati 28(INDIA) – 2 (two) receipts enclosed with Rs 50 & Rs 20 respectively.
3. Phesama landslide area – 2019 Kohima District Land Transport Trade Drivers’ Union, Phesama, Nagaland Registration No LBRT/Tech. 64/99 affiliated to all Manipur Transport Drivers’ & Motor Workers’ Union (Receipt of Rs 100 enclosed).
4. Phesama Police Check-Gate: Nagaland Police; KMC toll tax/fee; SAPO (Southern Angami Public Organisation) local tax – on package basis where the list is displayed on a big Sign Board.
5. Bye-Pass, Kohima: KMC toll tax/fee; MV department.
6. BSF Camp Chedema: KMC toll Tax/fee; Nagaland Police.
7. Meriema: KMC toll tax/fee.
8. Lal Mati: Nagaland Police; Excise; Forest department.
9. Pherima – Petroleum & Land Transport Workers Federation of India Government Registered No RTI 1445/94 HQ Beltola: Guwahati 28 (India) – 2 (two) receipts enclosed with Rs 50 & Rs 20 respectively despite ban/disallowed them by the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench a in the collection of cash on highways.
He addressed that maximum collection of cash at the check-gates and on highways is within the jurisdiction of Southern Angami area including SAPO local tax in and around Kohima.
Savi also said that the earlier lease tender period of SAPO local tax ended in the month of September. However, it was learnt that SAPO had conducted a fresh tender for 12 months with effect from October and it was given to a group who bid the amount of Rs 10 lakh. This was the case “where SAPO just conducts tender for a lease period of one year and simply earn the amount of Rs 10 lakh,” the NVCO President added.
Savi urged the Enquiry Committee to thoroughly interrogate Nagaland Police/Excise/Forest/Society/Union/Geology & Mining/ Federation/ Public Organization/KMC to find out the detailed involvement under whose initiative and on the basis of what order/law it was being practiced and to summon/enquire/investigate the officials of All Manipur Transport Drivers’ & Motor Workers’ Union for their initiative in illegal collection of cash on the highways of Nagaland especially in Southern Angami area.
He asserted that this was required to completely stop all collections of cash at the check-gates and on highways in the state starting with government agencies such as Police, Forest, Excise, Narcotics, Geology & Mining, etc.
Savi further questioned for how long KMC would be allowed to collect toll tax without providing services to the tax-payer, while also pointing out the government standing order dated June 22, 2009 in banning collection of taxes by any organization or individual including government departments and the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench judgment and order dated 03.06.2014 in disallowing the union/federation/association/ society from collecting cash on highways.
A copy of order dated 22.06.2009 and the Gauhati High Court judgment & order dated 03.06.2014 was available in the NVCO 2015 Booklet where the Organization had distributed freely to thousands of people across the state and it is also informed that the latest NVCO Book is under compilation.
