TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Undeterred by protests from across Goa’s borders, the government commenced its controversial entry tax on outstation vehicles, other than those from the adjacent districts, from Monday.
The entry tax was collected at the Mollem toll plaza from 4 pm and according to officials, about Rs 12,000 was collected in taxes for about three hours.
At the Mollem check post, the collection of entry tax commenced after it was inaugurated in a traditional manner in the presence of PWD officials.
A PWD official informed Herald that vehicles registered in Sawantwadi, Karwar and Belguam were excluded from the entry tax.
According to information, the Mollem check post will have 30 personnel working in three shifts (10 each) to collect entry tax from vehicles outside Goa.
Despite threats from outstation transporters to stop vegetables and other essential commodities to Goa in protest of the entry tax, the supply of vegetables to Goa via Ponda taluka was normal on Monday.
Though the supply of vegetables and other essential commodities to Ponda market was usual since early morning, traders were concerned that the actual problem could be witnessed on Tuesday, if transporters went ahead with their threat.
“So far, there is no problem. The supply of vegetables, flowers and other commodities has not been affected as yet. Some transporters have informed us about a possible Bandh in protest of the entry tax. The situation will be clear only on Tuesday,” Budhwarpeth Vyapari Sanghatana President Shankar Naik told Herald.
The milk supply to Goa Dairy was also unaffected by the entry tax on Monday.
“There was no problem at all. As usual, Goa Dairy on Monday received 18,000 litres of milk from Maharastra and Karnataka. Besides, raw material required for cattle feed was also procured from states like UP, Jharkhand and Karwar. We were in contact with milk suppliers from neighbouring States owing to a possible strike call by transporters.
They (milk suppliers) have assured us that the supply of milk won’t be affected. Moreover, Goa Diary has a yearly agreement with these milk suppliers,” informed Goa Dairy Managing Director Dr N Sawant.
