Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 1
Majority of rickshaws and “thela” (handcarts) in Dimapur town today remained off the road in protest against the imposition of ‘daily parking tax’ of Rs. 5 by the Dimapur Municipal Council. Although the bandh went off without much notice, citizens who depend on the cheapest mode of transportation (rickshaws) had to take alternative transport like autorickshaws.
Public as well as businessmen also had to face inconveniences such as transporting goods and other domestic items due to the thelas keeping off the roads. When contacted, the president of Thela Union Dimapur, Holuto Awomi said today’s bandh was not called by either the rickshaw or thela union but was a spontaneous reaction from thelas and rickshaw pullers, who form the ‘poorest’ section of society.
While informing that all rickshaws and thelas had to pay some amount to the DMC during registration as yearly renewal fees, the Thela Union president said most of the rickshaw and handcart pullers felt that additional imposition of Rs. 5/- as daily parking tax on each rickshaw or handcart, would force them out of business. A rickshaw puller confided that there were many occasions (weekdays) when he cannot earn enough money to provide two square meals a day for his two children and wife.
Awomi also informed that members of the rickshaw and thela unions today met with the DMC members in-charge of Tolls and Rate Control, but no decision could be arrived at on the issue of parking tax. The decision will be finalised on September 3 next, it was informed.
