KOHIMA, MAY 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) has urged the public and civil societies to support the State Government’s order in removing all police check gates and the District Administrations, especially the Inspection Teams, to strictly implement it without compromise in any form.
The NVCO said that the only solution to stop illegal taxation/cash collection at the check gates and on any highways is the removal of check gates in Nagaland. The NVCO has also extended its appreciation to Nagaland Governor for his initiative in this respect by sending a verbal directive to the State Government to close down all police check gates and the check gates set up by other departments including Municipal and Town Councils and to dismantle and completely remove any temporary structure/building standing at the location.
The NVCO pointed out that “no one bothered” about the earlier directives to the same effect from the State Government and said that previously even those check gates which were disassembled would their normal business of collecting money after sometime.
“Several policemen especially the lower ranking wish to get check-gates duty and it became a lucrative posting. The Manipur truckers allow the local people to do regular collection of cash on national highway by maintaining a pay cash-counter which invites more illegal conduct in our state. There is several cash collection in the heart of Dimapur town especially nearby train station without any pay counter in the name of this and that association/unions,” the NVCO pointed out.
The NVCO noted that illegal collection of cash at the check-gates has been going on for the last several decades and the interstate check-gates are worse in this illegal conduct. It said that this practice has directly led to increase of prices in the State.
“Since the Government of Nagaland has already implemented GST there cannot be any other tax,” the NVCO said and questioned the Dimapur district administration on illegal collections at the inter-state check gates such as New Field, Dellai and Khatkhati. The NVCO urged the citizens not to compromise with the said State Government’s order in any form so as to bring an end to the menace of illegal taxation/cash collection in the state.
