Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 16
Following a meeting with the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on Tuesday, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has decided to “strictly follow” the old rates prescribed for municipal tolls.
Defaulting lessees will face cancellation of their lease orders, it was stated. This was the first resolution adopted during the meeting and the second resolution stated that the DMC had empowered the Public Action Committee of NCD to monitor the activities of the lessees and to bring to the notice of the authority those lessees charging more than the existing rates. The meeting was necessitated after the Municipal Department leased out tax for items, the rates for which were later hiked by the lessees, leading to wide opposition from various organizations.
Meanwhile, the DMC has constituted a Monitoring Committee comprising of four DMC employees namely: Dr. Sentimoa Longkumer, VAS; T. Revo Anar, UDA; Inaka Zhimomi, UDA and Agan Rongmei, Accounts Assistant. The committee will visit each entry gate/collection point to ensure that collection is done as per prescribed rates.
Briefing media persons about the tolls issue and rate of entry tax for MS Rod, DMC Administrator, Moa Sangtam said that the government has not authorized any of the lessees to charge more than the existing rate adding, “the current issue is being created by the lessees.” He informed the public to report to the DMC if any of the lessees were found collecting more than the prescribed rates displayed at every gate/collection points, so that appropriate action can be initiated.
The Administrator also informed that currently 38 items were being leased out, of which tenders for 36 items were floated. Another two items including MS Rod and Tiles were leased out from the higher level without open tender, he added, citing norms which do not require floating tenders for leasing out commodities.
Further, he said, before leasing out items, the DMC was collecting an amount of Rs 55 lakh monthly on an average for the tolls taking into account the last 12 months. However, after the items were leased out, the DMC will be receiving Rs 67 lakh monthly, he added.
