EMN DIMAPUR, AUGUST 17
[dropcap]‘T[/dropcap]axation’ by underground factions in Nagaland, as well as by authorities in Assam and Nagaland and hike in fuel prices recently led to major escalation of hiring charges of truckers. In view of the hike in hiring charges for trucks from Jorhat/Amguri in Assam to Longleng in Nagaland, and subsequent price hike in essential commodities, the administration of Longleng district convened a joint meeting of the Assam -Longleng business association on August 13. The meeting held in the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall by the Truck Owners Association of Amguri-Halwating Branch, Truck Drivers Association of Amguri, Chamber of Commerce of Longleng, Drivers’ Union of Longleng, PPC and PSC office bearers and PA to DC. According to sources, Deputy Commissioner of the district K Libanthung Lotha sought co-operation and ‘peaceful co-ordination’ between the Longleng Chamber of Commerce and their counterparts in Assam. The reason is that prices of essential commodities do not escalate unnecessarily, it was informed. The deputy commissioner explained to the members present that the meeting was convened due to the latest hiked truck hiring charges from Jorhat/Amguri to Longleng which was fixed arbitrarily by the Truck Owners Association, Amguri-Halwating branch without consulting its counterpart from Longleng district. General Secretary of the Truck Owners’ Association of Assam Rana Pratap Singh explained that they were compelled to raise the hiring charges due to several ‘compelling reasons’ such as increase in prices of diesel, poor road conditions from Changtongya to Longleng, multiple taxation by underground factions at Tuli check-post in Nagaland, collection of marketing tax in Jorhat district in Assam by the Assam Police etc. After several pleas from the Longleng district administration, hiring charges for trucks was negotiated between the two parties. The change had to be made taking into account the hardships faced by truck owners from Assam. The hiring charges from Jorhat to Longleng were reduced to Rs 14, 000 from the recently hiked rate of Rs 15, 800. The charges from Amguri to Longleng were reduced from Rs. 13, 500 to Rs. 12, 000. The additional deputy commissioner of Longleng T Wati Aier has expressed gratitude to both the business associations of Longleng and Assam for solving the crisis amicably.