Strong protests in Maharashtra, Karnataka
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Goa government began collecting entry tax on non-Goan vehicles entering the state from Monday, amidst strong protests at Banda village in Maharashtra and certain parts of Karnataka, from affected persons who demanded a roll back.
However, the Transport Minister also announced plans of introducing a scheme on entry tax for trucks carrying essential goods and commodities daily to the State of Goa from the neighbouring regions of Karwar, Belgaum and Sawantwadi, in addition to deferring the levy of entry tax on trucks from these regions for a period of 15 days. (Related reports on page 3)
Similarly the transport minister has also introduced a full refund scheme on vehicles entering the state from National highway 17 and NH 4 and departing within four hours.
The collection of entry tax from the check posts with fetch government Rs 100 crores, annually.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told media that the authorities have begun collecting entry tax for the outstation vehicles entering Goa. Commercial Goan vehicles have also been brought under the entry tax bracket.
“When our neighbouring states have been charging toll, why is there opposition on entry tax imposed by Goa?” he asked reacting to the protests.
Parrikar also refused to roll back the entry tax, stressing that people from neighbouring states cannot dictate terms to Goa. He said that travel to neighbouring places like Bangalore and Pune is already charged by the respective state governments in the form of infrastructure tolls. “Why should someone question if Goa charges the tax? If you want to travel to Pune you have to pay Rs 500 and in Bangalore Rs 600 in the form of toll,” Parrikar argued.
If there are objections to the entry tax, government is open for dialogue with the respective organizations provided only regular commuters will be given concession, the chief minister said.
Goa government has started charging Rs 1,000 per truck, Rs 500 for tempo, Rs 250 for four wheelers and Rs 100 for three-wheeler.
Parrikar pointed out that diesel is cheaper by Rs 1.7 and petrol by Rs 3 in Goa than in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
“The vehicles go back with the tanks full so where is the question of Goa charging more? They fill 150 litres of diesel saving Rs 500-700,” he asserted.
The government has exempted four districts from the tax for the next 15 days as the vehicular traffic from these districts is currently under observations. “We will give them concessions in the form of monthly passes. We are ready to give concessions for regular commuters,” the chief minister added.
Meanwhile, Dhavalikar told the House that there should be no objections to the entry tax scheme as vehicles coming to Goa are also taking advantage of re-fuelling in Goa where fuel was comparatively cheaper than in the neighbouring states.
“In the very first hour Monday we got a much as Rs 17,000 as entry tax from one booth alone,” Dhavalikar informed the House. This is the booth set up at the Dhargal border.
The transport minister allayed fears of any steep hike in price of essential commodities such as vegetable, milk and other food grains stating that there was a negligible increase and would in no way affect the common man.
He was replying to a Zero Hour notice raised by Calangute legislator Michael Lobo who referred to media reports that the chambers of commerce and industry of Karwar and Belgaum have decided not to ply trucks with essential goods to Goa in view of the introduction of the entry tax along the State borders from Monday.
“Almost 80 per cent of essential commodities come from neighbouring areas such Hubli, Belgaum and Kolhapur,” said Lobo, impressing on the government to work out some relaxation for trucks coming to Goa on a daily basis, particularly those bringing in vegetables, meat and milk.
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