Transport dept revenue collection exceeds targets

EMN Dimapur, July 29 [caption id="attachment_586" align="alignleft" width="225"] Transport dept revenue
collection exceeds targets[/caption] In the backdrop of the recent controversy over collection of taxes/compounding fees from goods-laden trucks entering Nagaland by the Transport department, State Transport Commissioner has issued a statement giving details of the revenue earned by the department in the last five years ending March 31, 2013. As per the statement, the revenue collected by the department each year during the last five years exceeded the targeted collection.The statement said as against the revenue target of Rs 3296.00 lakh the department achieved revenue collection of Rs 5130.96 lakh during 2012-13. It added that the revenue collection from 2007-08 to 2011-12 also exceeded the targeted collection. While the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) challenged the claims of the Transport authorities in Dimapur that the tax collected from goods-laden trucks entering the State are legal, the Transport Commissioner said the officers, the enforcement wing in particular, of the department have done a commendable job in revenue mobilization. The ACAUT stated that approximately 100 goods-laden trucks enter Nagaland per day and if a minimum of Rs 500 is charged per truck then the revenue collection per year will be Rs 1,82,50,000. It also raised question over the revenue collected from all the trucks, which according to drivers’ statements ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per truck. The Transport Commissioner said the department does not have permanent check gates but conduct surprise checks on road sides. He said despite adverse circumstances, 23952 MV cases were detected for violation of different sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules in the last five years upto March 31, 2013 and compounding fee of Rs 173.29 lakh were realized. The statement said although basically a regulating department, it has over the years become a major revenue earning department of the State. The department has eight licensing and registering authorities in the State. The Regional Transport Officers are based in Kohima and Mokokchung while the district offices are in Mon, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Dimapur and Phek.