DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 15 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) and the Kohima District Truck Owners and Drivers’ Union (KDTODU) today extended its full support to the Public Action Committee’s (PAC) exercise to curb illegal collection at check gates and highways beginning September 16.
A press release from the NVCO informed that it held a meeting with the KDTODU on September 13 and discussed how illegal collections of cash at the check-gates and on highways is the main cause of price-rise in all essential and non-essential commodities in the state capital.
The NVCO had earlier submitted a representation to the Nagaland State Chief Secretary to execute the common Judgement & Order dated passed by the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench as well as the Government standing Order to completely stop the illegal collection of cash at the check-gates and on any part of the highway.
It further asked the Chief Secretary to issue necessary directions to the Deputy Commissioners of all districts in Nagaland to effectively enforced and execute the orders.
“Nagaland is a state mushrooming with illegal collections of cash by police, unions, associations, federations, public organizations and government departments at the check gates and on highways. Many trucks coming from outside refused to enter Nagaland because of the forcible collection of taxes,” the BVCO pointed out.
There are numerous collection points at every conceivable corner in Dimapur including the authorized and unauthorized DMC toll tax counters where truck drivers are stopped and compelled to pay some amount, it added.
All these, said the NVCO, add to the cost of various items.
The same menace is practiced in all the districts in Nagaland especially check-gates maintained by Nagaland Police and the worse places are the state bordering gates, it added.
The NVCO pointed out that just within a range of 20-25kms i.e Khuzama police check-gate to Kohima bye-pass police check-gate lying on national highway-29, there are more than seven pay-counters including pay-counters initiated by Manipur vehicle/truck/oil tankers owners/drivers, public organization at Phesama check-gate, KMC toll tax collection counter etc.
It further informed that the Pay-Counter in the name of Petroleum & Land Transport Workers Federation of India’s Information Centre lying on NH-29, Jakhama village above Loyola Higher Secondary School is continually collecting cash especially from trucks.
“Collecting cash on any highways is illegal/unauthorized and also a violation of National Highways Rule,” the NVCO pointed out.
It meanwhile further stated that the Nagaland Police should work towards moving away the existing culture where check-gates are places for their highest earning. “The check-gate posting considered to be lucrative by the Nagaland Police has to be dismantled,” it said.
The NVCO reminded that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime which was also implemented without peoples’ consultation in the state has already covered all taxes. “It is the sole duty of the state government to maintain law and order for the security and safety of its citizens,” it said.
