Road boycott over extortion & taxation

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 22 

Taxis, buses and other commercial vehicles still refuse to ply the Dimapur-Peren road via 7th Mile and Sukhovi, the shortest route connecting the two districts.

The Peren unit of the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) and the Peren District Bus Union had boycotted the route since November  2009, following over-taxation and extortion on commercial vehicles by  undergrounds, municipal body and villagers. Taxi drivers plying the Dimapur-Peren route said that earlier before the boycott, they had to pay taxes to at least three parties for a to-and-fro journey.

The first is at the town council post at 7th Mile, the second at the “tax shed” right after crossing the stream (Khopanullah) and beyond that by an underground faction. Youths  of a nearby village manning the “tax shed” collect Rs. 10 and Rs. 30 from each taxi and bus respectively, as “maintenance cost” of the muddy stretch. The stretch  is  from the stream up to the shed, a distance of hardly 200 feet, a taxi driver disclosed.

“The maintenance cost is just an excuse to collect money as hardly anything is done to improve the stretch (of road),” he added. Another source said that the so-called “tax”  levied by the underground faction ranges from Rs. 20 for taxis and  over,  for buses and other big vehicles. 

At 7th Mile post, besides levying taxes on vegetables from poor farmers going to Dimapur to sell their produce, the authority allegedly imposes  tax on even items meant for personal consumption.

“One time I was carrying 5-6 chickens from Dimapur and they charged for the chickens even after I explained that they were for consumption at home,” a regular passenger of the route said here at the Dimapur-Peren taxi and bus stop at Eros Cinema Hall.
Besides the taxes, drivers as well passengers have complained of constant harassment from some rogue elements on the route. The distance from Dimapur to Jalukie via 7th Mile is around 30km compared to around 70km via Medziphema. An office bearer of ANTA’s  Peren unit said that the drivers were compelled to take the Medziphema route because of the said  reasons  although the other route is  a  great time-saver.

He also said that the taxi and bus unions of Peren district have not taken any decision yet on whether to resume operation on the shorter route. He also said that the decision to take the Medziphema route is benefiting the northern Zeme villages along the route such as Heningkunglwa, Punglwa, Gaili and Ngawlwa. There are more than 50 taxis (registered and non-registered) and 10-odd private buses plying the Dimapur-Peren route. 



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