Dimapur, Oct. 12 (EMN): Controversy over the Dimapur Municipal Council’s practice of leasing out toll collection at entry gate has resurfaced following a complaint from a group of traders called the Hardware Merchants’ Association Dimapur District (HMADD).
In a statement issued on Friday, the association stated that earlier the entry tax for six-wheeler transporting Mild Steel (MS) Rod was INR 350 and INR 450 for 12-wheeler. “However, since the toll tax (sic) was leased out, the toll tax collection has started with INR 50 per MT instead of per vehicle since October 1, 2018. With the lease system introduced by the Dimapur Municipal Council, the entry tax has increased to INR 3500 per vehicle for 12-wheeler of 70 MT.
“This is taking a huge toll on the transporters eventually affecting the public/customers in a humongous way. The burden eventually falls on the customers who have to bear the brunt for no fault of theirs but due to the flawed policy decision made by the Municipal Affairs Department in leasing out the commodities,” the statement read.
Also, it stated that the DMC was not a “sales tax/GST department” to be collecting tax on commodities. The municipal council can on collect entry tax per vehicle and not ‘commodity-wise’, it stated.
“With the present tax rate, the merchants are apprehensive of facing unfavourable reaction from the customers and the association do not want the public to suffer out of the current issue. Therefore, the Hardware Merchants’ Association Dimapur District urges upon the Municipal Affairs department to immediately revoke the order on DMC Tolls and Urban Utility Fees during 2018-19.
“Failure to revoke the order will compel the association, with no other choice, but to resort to our own course of action which definitely will hugely affect the public. This statement is issued purely in the interest of the public/customers who shall bear the extra unnecessary burden,” the statement read.
