Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 3: The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has alleged that some armed Naga groups were “attempting to levy tax” from contractors involved in the construction of Doyang Bridge.
The committee issued a statement asserting the groups were not allowed to impose tax as per an earlier agreement between the NFHRCC and the Naga groups. The statement did not name which groups were “attempting” to tax the contractors.
An official of the NFHRCC told Eastern Mirror on Monday that trucks carrying construction materials meant for the Doyang Bridge were asked to pay tax by the groups ‘somewhere around Dimapur.’ The committee appealed the amred Naga groups “to reaffirm the understanding that had arrived earlier between them at the time of the commencement of the historic project in 2013.”
It stated that any form of taxation levied by any group would be “treated as against the integrity of the Nagas.”
Also, the committee expressed appreciation to the present government ‘for its utmost concern for the historic Naga project.’ It appealed the government to issue work orders for the remaining uncut portions as “assured by the minister of Road and Bridges Tongpang Ozukum and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.”
