Dimapur civil societies against lease system

Dimapur, September 26 : Dimapur based apex civil societies have asserted that they will not allow implementation of the notification of Municipal Affairs Department, Kohima order No.MA-125/2015(Pt) dated 19th September 2016 enforcing lease system for tax, tolls and fees in Dimapur from the month of October 2016. In a joint release today, Naga Council Dimapur vice president K. Ghokheto Chophy, Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation acting president Z Kafo, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry secretary Sanjay Sethi, GBs Union Dimapur general secretary Yehoto Zhimo, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union president Sungkum Ao, Business Association of Nagas general secretary Dr Khekugha Murru, Muslim Council Dimapur working president Ahidur Rehman and Bengali Samaj Dimapur president KK Paul claimed that ever since the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) was allowed to collect toll taxes, Dimapur town has been seeing huge developmental activities like construction of roads, dustbins, bridges, box culverts and drains. “The public is in deep appreciation towards such developments and continues to provide unstinted support and cooperation to the DMC since there has not been any financial irregularities and the amount collected through toll taxes are being utilized in a transparent manner,” the joint release stated. The apex civil societies also viewed the government’s move to lease out toll taxes as “anti-people” and “anti-development policy” at a time when more developmental activities are being undertaken on a war footing for which the public is the witness. Hence, the Dimapur based apex civil societies have vowed not to allow such “defective policy” to be implemented in Dimapur at any cost, the release said. “The civil societies and public shall fight tooth and nail to oppose the implementation of the stated government notification as it is totally against the welfare of the people,” it added. The apex civil societies further cautioned that no leasee will be allowed to collect toll taxes as they would be inviting unnecessary and preventable problems. Any leasee would be collecting toll taxes at their own risk since the public would rise to the issue, they further warned.