Dimapur, June 1 (EMN): Dimapur based civil society from different organisations have reiterated its opposition against leasing out Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) toll tax collection to any private party/ middleman at any cost.
A joint press release issued by 10 organisations based in Dimapur justified that with the collection of toll tax by DMC establishment, Dimapur has seen visible development and facelift in the maintenance of roads, drainage, designated dustbins, culvert and overall improvement in sanitation.
Also making understood to all that DMC has enough manpower under its payroll to collect toll tax, it said the question of public paying commission to a middleman (lessee) to collect toll tax is unjustified and unacceptable but also ridiculous.
Referring to the recent bitter experience of a showdown between civil society and government due to mishandling of ULB elections in the State, it reminded that the civil society is in no mood to confront the government on toll tax issue.
Stating that any attempt to lease out toll tax collection to private party will be seen by the civil society as nothing but a vested interest of certain individuals above development and welfare of the public, it said such activities would be treated as ‘anti-people and development.’ It further reminded DMC, Municipal Affairs Department and State government that any attempt to lease out toll tax will face non-cooperation from the civil society and business community, who constituted the stakeholders.
The statement was jointly appended by K Ghokheto Chophy, vice president (Admn) Naga Council Dimapur; Tsenthungo Lotha, president DUCCF; Nungshirenla Aier, president Naga Women Hoho Dimapur; Er. Khekugha Muru, general secretary Business Association of Nagas; N Joseph Lemtur, president DDCF; Sanjay Sethi, secretary DCCI; A Rahman, Working president Muslim Council Dimapur; Kamala Kanta Paul, president Dimapur Bengali Samaj; Ato Yepthomi, president Nagaland Medicine Dealers’ Association; and Yeheto Zhimomi, GBs’ Union.
