Dimapur, November 12 : The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has denounced what has been alleged as “illegal collection” and harassment of truckers at Chumukedima, in Dimapur by some police personnel from the city's zone-II.
Such offence continues in Nagaland in addition to the plethora of still-unchecked illegal business practices by service providers in the state, a recent statement from the NVCO has highlighted.
The NVCO issued a press release on Saturday noting media reports on November 11 stating the grievances of the Kohima District Truck Owners’ and Drivers’ Union. It was reported that police personnel were harassing and demanding money to the extent of Rs.500 to Rs.1000 and another Rs.500 or more for carrying commodities such as sand and ‘stone dust etc,’ ht e NVCO stated in ite press release.
‘The NVCO support the appeal of KDTODU to the commissioner of police Dimapur and Dimapur district administration to verify and take corrective measures,’ the organization stated. “Illegal collection” and imposition of multiple taxes in Dimapur in the commercial hub of the state is one major cause of price-rise, the organization reminded.
“Every now and then, temporary rise of prices in essential commodities including building materials is common in Dimapur. Too many pay-counters besides the two main Nagaland check-gates situated at the entry point to state / Dimapur,” the NVCO stated.
“As the state capital, Kohima is the best place for fund-raise and of course several ways of fund-raise spoiled the market price and also amounts to public harassment.”
The organization also reminded of a pet peeve: illegal and “unfair” weights ‘especially practiced by the butchers.’ This illegal practice is common, the organization stated.
The state’s government especially the district administrations and municipal councils have failed to control price in the markets, the NVCO said. “The original price tag on motor parts are removed and sold at an exorbitant rate. The workmanship in construction is poor especially roads where it does not last long including the BRTF where the causes of poor workmanship includes the uses of sub-standard and expiry materials,” the NVCO stated as instances.
The statement lamented that “with just one rainy season the roads are almost spoiled and full of pot-holes.”
Alleging that the state’s government was ‘not sincere in controlling or regulating the price of goods and services at a reasonable rate,’ the organization stated that prices go up ‘abnormally’ every Hornbill Festival and Christmas season.
“And the state government has miserably failed to control the illegal collection of cash on highways and at the check-gates by Nagaland police, associations, public organisation, unions, federation, etc in the state of Nagaland the wellbeing of common people are not protected,” the NVCO stated.
By an order that was issued in 2009, the Nagaland government had banned illegal collection of cash” at check gates or in any part of highways. The government has also decided that no tax shall be exacted by any organisation or individual including government departments such as the police, the Excise, and Forest and Taxes departments, among others.
Also, the NVCO reminded, the Gauhati High Court has issued a common judgement in 2014 disallowing several organizations from collecting money along the highways.
