NTTU demand: Only one forest check gate in each district
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17 (MExN): The assurances of the State government and the Forest department to streamline collection of tax seems to be a far cry as officials posted at forest check gates are still reportedly resorting to rampant collection of “illegal tax” on all vehicles carrying timber, with or without transit permit.
The Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) in a press statement today disclosed that on April 16 last, two timber-laden vehicles (NL07 – A0441 and NL03 – A1730) enroute to Dimapur from Salomi, under Kiphire district, were taxed at three forest check gates between Kohima and Dimapur.
“The two vehicles were taxed Rs.500 each at all the three forest check gates – BSF Camp and By-Pass in Kohima and Chumukedima Forest Gate,” informed the statement signed by NTTU president Kevise Angami, general secretary Alem Pongener and vice presidents husca Zhimo and N John Zeliang.
In addition to these, NTTU said the two vehicles also had to pay Rs.330 to the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) and Rs.200 to the Chumukedima Town Council (CTC). Terming the “rampant” taxation as “illegal”, NTTU reminded that the union had been pursuing with the State government as well as various “Naga national governments” to streamline their tax collection on the line of “one goods one tax.”
The NTTU also said it had made repeated appeals to the Forest department to keep only one Forest check gate in each district, and also to the KMC and CTC to levy Rs.100 only per vehicle as toll tax, so that timber traders were not weighed down by overtaxation. “However, all our appeals have fallen on deaf ears as no action has been taken so far by the department and the municipal/town councils,” the union added.
Reiterating its demand for only one forest check gate in each district, the NTTU also demanded the department in concern to take immediate action against the erring officials deployed at the forest check gates. Meanwhile, the Union took strong exception to the act of the timber owner of the two vehicles for violating the earlier decision of NTTU to suspend transportation of timber with effect from July 5 till the issue of taxation at check gates was resolved. The union cautioned that it would not tolerate any action which was against the general interest of the timber traders.
