Picketing against vehicle tax hike hits biz in Shillong

SHILLONG: Transactions worth crores of rupees were stalled in the state, especially in the capital, with several social organizations resorting to picketing outside banks, financial institutions and government offices to protest against the recent hike in vehicular tax on Monday.

Besides NGOs, taxi owners and drivers had called a day-long office picketing in four districts of Meghalaya. Office-goers were prevented from entering their workplaces by the demonstrators even as most offices wore a deserted look.

"The picketing affected work in all government offices of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi districts. All three districts in Garo Hills, however, were left out of the purview of the protest," said a senior government official.

"Transactions worth crores could not be carried out as banks and other financial institutions were closed," the official added. The office picketing was called last week after the state government failed to act on the demands of Khasi Students' Union (KSU), Jaintia Students' Union and the East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association to review the hike in motor vehicles tax.

The three organizations had submitted a memorandum to chief minister Mukul Sangma, who also holds the taxation portfolio, on July 7. They had vehemently opposed the recent hike in motor vehicles tax and composite taxes following a recommendation by the state's Resource Mobilization Committee. The students' bodies had described the incident "unreasonable and unprecedented" as they felt such "abnormal increase" of tax would have serious ramifications and the general public would have to bear the brunt.

The annual road tax for passenger taxis carrying four to six persons has been increased to Rs 1,800 from Rs 420. For local taxis, the annual road tax has been hiked from Rs 460 to Rs 2,600. For tourist taxis, the amount has been raised to Rs 4,800 from Rs 1440. For vehicles with passenger capacity of seven to 12, it has been hiked to Rs 5,700 from Rs 3,000.

Road tax for life-saving vehicles has been fixed at Rs 2,500 while ambulances had to pay only Rs 200 as registration fees before the revision. The one-time tax for two and three wheelers has also been increased by three to four times.

Earlier, East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh had called the agitating NGO members for dialogue following which they had agreed to a day-long agitation.

Though security arrangements have been tightened, work in government offices was severely hit. This despite chief secretary WMS Pariat issuing a notification to all administrative heads that all government employees were required to attend office "failing which action, may be considered appropriate, will be taken against them."