AASU, AJYCP protest against illegal tax collection in entry gates

AASU, AJYCP protest against illegal tax collection in entry gates

Karbi Anglong district units AASU & AJYCP protested against the alleged illegal tax collection in several entry tax gates in the hill district under KAAC authority

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAJAN: The Karbi Anglong district units of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Monday protested against the alleged illegal tax collection in several entry tax gates in the hill district under KAAC authority.

The AJYCP staged a demonstration in front of Bokajan Higher Secondary School while the AASU organized a press meet urging authorities to look into the matter immediately. Later, both the organizations submitted memoranda to the Chief Minister through the SDO (C) to draw the former's attention towards these unethical practices which are rampant in this hill district of Karbi Anglong.

The KAAC Revenue Department awards lease to at least 20 entry tax gates stationed in different entry and exit points within the district to generate revenue amounting to crores of rupees annually. The KAAC authorities have also prescribed rates for different vehicles and commodities (livestock) entering into the district. The highest scheduled tax as per KAAC norms is Rs 10. However, a lot more than the prescribed amount is collected in these gates.

As per reports, the gatekeepers attached to these gates do not follow the prescribed rate chart and collect tax based upon the number of wheels of a truck. For instance, a 6-wheeler truck on entering the district is charged Rs 500 against the scheduled rate of Rs 10. A 10-wheeler is charged Rs 800 while a 12-wheeler pays Rs 1000 and so on.

"This practice of illegal tax collection has been going on unabated since years and has of late turned into a thriving syndicate in Karbi Anglong. An organized racket of non-local residents and a few political bureaucrats are part of this syndicate. The lorry owners and the neighbouring States of Nagaland and Manipur bear the burn of this unethical practice. This has also led to price rise of essential commodities in the market. We demand the government to ensure that the prescribed tax schedule is followed and a rate chart be hanged in these gates at the earliest," said Bedanta Saikia, organization secretary of the AASU.

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