ACAUT Fact-finding team visit Jorhat to study taxation issue
DIMAPUR, JUNE 25 (MExN): The Action Committee against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has demanded that the State government in public interest abrogate the relevant section of Nagaland Municipal Act authorizing and legalizing DMC and other municipal bodies to maintain and levy taxes on essential commodities and every goods consignment that enters municipal area. The concerned Secretary is requested to immediately issue such a cancellation order and amendment through the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is also called for, it said.
A Fact-finding team of the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) visited Jorhat as part of what it termed as “its delegated responsibility to study the taxation issue and help streamline the perennial pricing controversy in Dimapur”.
Describing as very important, the team found out that unlike DMC, the Jorhat Municipal Board does not maintain toll gates to collect taxes on any form of goods entering its jurisdiction.
According to a press note issued by its Convenor, Ntsemo Ngullie and Secretary, Solomon L. Awomi, the Fact-finding team interacted with Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce: Jorhat and compared the prices of essential commodities and hardware products of the two places, Jorhat and Dimapur for which ACAUT will bring out a comprehensive data at a later date.
Stating that DMC should not be mis-utilized for vested interest, the press note also disclosed that it had come to the knowledge of ACAUT that the Urban Development Department was in the process of granting license to individuals/firms to collect DMC toll tax, for which 35 individuals and firms are reportedly in the fray to get hold of this lucrative license.
“It’s as clear as daylight that DMC toll tax is a contributing factor towards price rise but despite the public hue and cry, this government action is condemnable and even anti-people. This latest government notification should be stopped immediately”, stated the ACAUT while once again demanding the immediate removal of all DMC toll gates.
Also it was pointed out that UPDS, which is a Karbi militant outfit, is still collecting tax in Dimapur. For instance, Rs. 25,000/- is collected as “cement tax” from every cement load that reaches Dimapur through rail, it was disclosed. “The Naga individual/s collecting tax on behalf of UPDS and the so-called Naga political groups patronizing such outfits should be ashamed of their actions. ACAUT demands the immediate arrest of this/these tax collector/s”, it stated.
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