Transporters stick to May 12 midnight deadline over entry tax
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM/BELGAUM: With the midnight of May 12 deadline inching closer, the state government and the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) with its ‘Chakka Jam’ diktat are on an apparent collision course over the entry tax on outside vehicles entering the state.
With the government saying it is firm on the imposition of entry tax, transport associations from Karnataka and Maharashtra are trying their level best to ensure compliance to their blockade threat – a total block of all transport vehicles including interstate buses in and out of the state.
The AITMC, Kolhapur branch, has formed five teams to block all transport and passenger vehicles to Goa and vice versa.
“Anyone trying to defy our orders will not be spared and we expect all concerned to co-operate with us against the illegal entry tax imposed,” said AITMC Kolhapur branch president Subhash Jadhav. Members have already camped at all entry points on the Goa border.
“This is a do or die battle for us. It is now or never. Goa must roll back the entry tax,” Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners & Agents Associations president G R Shanmugappa said.
Transporters from Belgaum district are camping at Jamboti, Ramnagar, Peeranwadi Cross, Turmuri and Chorla Road, while transporters from Kolhapur district will block vehicles at Radhanagari and Ajara. Transport organizations from Sindhudurg district plan to block transport vehicles and private buses to Goa at Banda.
Karwar District Truck Owners Association and Director of North Karnataka Truck Owners Association Madhav Nayak stated that following the decision of All India Motor Transport Congress, no private vehicle will be allowed to enter Goa from Majali check-post.
Speaking to media persons, Nayak said members of different associations all over the country had deliberated with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, where he said he would consider their request about entry fee, but nothing has materialized.
“Hence, AIMTC decided to stop transport to Goa till the Goa government stops illegal collection of entry fee,” stated Nayak.
“We will assemble near the sales tax check-post on Monday at 8 am and send back all trucks carrying material to Goa. A message not to load trucks for Goa has been already sent and chances of any vehicle carrying material to Goa are almost nil,” he said.
“We will also ask private cars and tourists not to enter Goa since all supply of foodstuff like rice, vegetables, milk, fish and even naphtha for their power plant will be cut-off from all the border districts of Belgaum, Sindhadurg, etc,” added Nayak.
“This will continue till Goa government gives up the practice of collecting entry fee,” he said.
Vegetables from surrounding areas like Belgaum find a ready market in the state. Also milk, eggs and chicken have markets in the state with hotels being supplied from surrounding areas. Even local businessmen have set up poultries across the border.
Goan authorities, however, are a little upset over the highhandedness of the transporters and speaking to reporters have pointedly said that threats would not work and if anything has to be sorted out it can be done over the table.
The chief minister and transport minister are supposed to meet on Monday to review the situation and come to some concrete decision. Authorities~while saying that they are firm on the entry tax~ have expressed their confidence that matters will be resolved given that the state is a major buyer of produce from neighboring states and rates that the state pays are high compared to other areas.
“We are in contract with suppliers. They will lose the contract (if they stop supply). For example milk suppliers don’t want to stop,” says Transport Minister, Ramkrishna Sudhin Dhavalikar. Dhavlikar said suppliers are getting good rates from five star hotels in Goa and in case they do not supply ,then their contract could be cancelled.
“I have kept one KTC bus on each route to take care of the blockade. Only transport for passengers has been kept in reserve at check posts including Pollem, Mollem and Dhargal,” he told Herald, when asked about the arrangements.
Earlier, Parrikar was reported to have told reporters that government will not talk to the protesters if they continue to threaten the state, but if they have any demands they should sit and talk with the government authorities.
He had also told media on Saturday that he was prepared to charge Rs 1000 for each extra tonne in a vehicle beyond seven tonnes and scrap the entry tax, as is being done in Gujarat.
According to him trucks normally bring goods from 10 to 18 tonnes, for which the government charges only Rs 1000 but in case that proposal is implemented they would have to pay from Rs 3000 to Rs 11,000 extra.
