Dimapur, May 21 (MExN): As a public office, the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called on the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) to function strictly in accordance with the Nagaland Municipal Act, while highlighting a series of alleged irregularities affecting the business community.
The DCCI clarified that it does not question the legitimacy of the status of elected representatives, but reminded the DMC that being elected does not grant the liberty to operate a public office in an arbitrary or self-styled manner.
"Public offices must function in accordance with the Municipal Act of Nagaland. Even the highest decision-making body in the country, the Parliament, operates within the framework of the Constitution and established laws," it asserted.
While appreciating the DMC’s ‘prompt response’ to its earlier concerns, the DCCI once again highlighted certain anomalies affecting the business community and also responded to the DMC’s explanations.
One such issue was the hike in trade licence fees. According to the DMC, the increase was undertaken to implement and fund the digitisation of the DMC website and online app.
However, the DCCI pointed out that the digitisation was meant to be implemented two years ago, when the Chamber was officially invited by the DMC CEO/Administrator to his office chamber.
It maintained that both sanitation and trade licence fees had already been discussed and increased during that time.
As such, the DCCI questioned the delay in the digitisation process and sought clarity on when it would be implemented. It also asked whether the DMC receives any funding from the State Government for this purpose.
The DCCI further highlighted what it termed a “contradiction” in the DMC’s actions—enforcing safety regulations while simultaneously permitting vendors to sell goods on footpaths and drainage slabs, from whom taxes are being collected.
This practice, it stated, obstructs pedestrian pathways and undermines the Council’s stated objective of transforming Dimapur into a thriving ‘metropolitan city’.
Meanwhile, the DCCI alleged that a certain ward councillor has appointed a caretaker carrying an official DMC ID card, who is collecting Rs 200 per shop every month in the locality.
“Who issued this ID? Was it the CEO, the DMC chairman, or the ward councillor? And are they authorised to tax the business community?,” DCCI posed.
It further noted that following the issuance of trade licences, a new fee termed “Regulation Fee” has emerged and is now being imposed on various traders and shops.
The DCCI also stated that it had been informed by the business community that the DMC is imposing taxes on GST goods arriving via railway wagons, “blatantly and knowingly that it is illegal.”
Goods under Goods and Services Tax (GST) cannot be taxed again, it asserted.
Accordingly, the DCCI questioned whether such actions reflect the DMC’s vision to make “Dimapur urban area takes its rightful place not only as the commercial capital but also a thriving metropolitan city in Nagaland.”
According to the Chamber, it is only sharing a fraction of the problems faced by the business community and reaffirmed its commitment to remain at the forefront if it serves the betterment and growth of Dimapur city.
The DCCI also expressed its appreciation to all civil society organisations, Welfare Committees, the business community, and citizens of Dimapur for their full support of the voluntary shutter down called by nine District Chambers on May 19.
