Nagaland: PAC seeks clarification from DC Dimapur

Eastern Mirror Desk

Dimapur Sep. 17: On the second day of PAC-led monitoring of illegal collections at check-gates, the committee submitted an official representation to the deputy commissioner of Dimapur seeking explanation on  why two departments—Geology and Mining, and Forest—were collecting royalty on goods coming from outside the state.

This was informed at a press conference called by the PAC on Tuesday evening. According to the committee members, they want to know the rationale as well as the legality of it. “And if minerals coming from outside the state are to pay royalty, why two state departments have to collect royalty for the same item?” they posed.

Earlier in the day, according to the committee, the volunteers had caught one person named Abemo Yanthan collecting INR 2000 from the truck drivers before they entered the check gate even as the DMC rate is ‘around INR 300’. The committee has filed an FIR in connection with this case.

The armed Naga groups have stopped collecting money from the day the volunteers started monitoring, the committee members said.

“We are not saying that we will eradicate all the illegal activities but we want to highlight the problems the public are facing,” they said, adding that the committee has received widespread support ‘turning it into a mass-movement.’

Pointing out that GST regime ensures goods coming in from outside have already been taxed, including state and central taxes, the committee maintained this renders tax collection in Nagaland illegal.

It was informed that the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary has started deploying a doctor from Tuesday morning.

The committee has called for a meeting of all tribe hohos and frontal organisations of Dimapur at NCD office, at 9 am on September 18.