Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 7: All Kashmir Transport Confederation (AKTC) today urged the authorities to take necessary steps to ensure that the SRTC buses do not enter the city and halt at Parimpora and Pantha Chowk while seeking the necessary intervention of the Administration concerning the newly imposed Green Tax.
Addressing a press conference here, Chairman, All Kashmir Transport Confederation, Mir Mohd Shafi said despite clear-cut directives with regard to stopping all the passenger vehicles at the city entry points, violations are being committed by the SRTC.
“We had earlier put forth several demands and that also included that SRTC buses should not be allowed to enter the city. On this, there is also a court order which states that no passenger vehicles should be allowed beyond certain points,” he said.
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However, he said, while they are halting at Parimpora and Pantha Chowk, the SRTC buses are going beyond that, “which is a clear violation of the directives and also affects our livelihood.”
With regard to Green Tax imposed by the Government, he said that under the new tax, they will have to pay for the re-registration of the vehicles aged beyond 15 years.
“It is a burden on us as we will have to pay Rs 16000. Earlier we used to pay Rs 900 instead and for the sumos, the fee used to be Rs 600 and now they have to pay Rs 8000, which is a sheer injustice as we are not in a position to pay that; there is a need for finding a way out,” he said.
With regard to stopping the SRTC buses at Parimpora and Pantha Chowk, he said that the SSP Traffic had assured them that within one month the matter will be taken care of, however, he said, the situation remains the same.
“Passengers from the north as well as south Kashmir prefer SRTC buses on us because those buses take them directly into the city. When we are not in a position to work effectively, how are we going to earn and how are we going pay the tax,” he asked.
The Confederation said that by May 15, if the authorities failed to halt the SRTC buses at city entry points, “then we will be forced to bring all the passenger vehicles to Batamaloo stand.”
Concerning Green Tax, the Confederation said that there is a need for finding a way out and until that is done, “our documents should be processed and we should be allowed to function as per routine.”
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