Dimapur, July 20 (EMN): The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Bricks Field Owners Union (BFOU) held a joint meeting to take stock of the reported price escalation of bricks to more than INR 10 per piece and found out that the abnormal price rise is due to the presence of middlemen selling bricks at various locations in the towns and highways.
A press release from the DCCI received here on Friday informed that during the joint meeting 'it was found out that the brick klins are selling the bricks at the rates fixed by the district administration on Feb. 3 2018 i.e., 'Rs. 6.50 for A class, Rs 6/- for medium class, Rs. 5.50/- fro medium class and broken bricks at Rs. 3500-4000/- per truckload'.
In this connection, the release stated that the DCCI further found out that 'rate racketeering is mainly due to the presence of middlemen selling bricks at various location in towns and highways purchase from bricks kilns and selling at higher price'.
Therefore, the DCCI appealed the district administration to immediately intervene and 'either close those retailers or ensure that they sell bricks at rates fixed by the administration'. The DCCI further appealed the public to make conscious decisions and buy from the brick kilns at rates fixed by the administration rather than be cheated by the middlemen selling at inflated rates.
The release informed that the DCCI and BFOU that 'any brick Kiln selling bricks above rates fixed by district administration should be immediately informed at the given contact no 7005886916 or 7005526728'.
"If any kiln is found selling the bricks above fixed rates stringent action to the extent of cancellation of the permit will be initiated," the release warned.
Meanwhile, the release also stated that the issue of taxation from the various NPGs was brought to the notice of the DCCI by the Bricks Field Owners Union (BFOU). The BFOU lamented that there are six kind of taxations viz. 'yearly tax', 'yearly coal tax', 'coal per trip tax', sand tax, vehicle tax and labour tax' which is overburdening the brick kilns production and leaving them with no choice but to recover from the price of the bricks.
Further, it was brought to the notice of DCCI by BFOU that the taxation from various NPGs are overburdening the bricks kilns production and the business community has no choice but to recover from the price of the bricks. It further adds that taxation is multiples are being collected by various NPGs namely 1. Yearly Tax 2. Coal yearly tax 3. Coal per trip tax 4. Sand tax 5. Vehicle tax 6. Labour tax.
The DCCI asserted that these 'six taxes multiplied by seven NPGs totals into 42 taxes that are paid to produce a single brick, which is beyond any justification and reasons' and therefore appealed the state government to look into the grievances into the grievances of BFOU.
