Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA May 29: Describing levying of toll tax by NH1A as unjust and anti-people, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today said that the Centre and the PDP-BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir have failed to rein in and save the commuters from unwarranted levy.
“Despite assurance by the State Government about rationalisation of the tax structure, it has not been able to convince the Centre and the NH1A so far as a result of which the travelling public is feeling harassed at the hands of staff manning the toll plazas”, he said while addressing party workers at Pali in Panchayat Badsoo and Jakhyari in Panchayat Dhan of Nagrota Assembly constituency. He said the Government should put extra effort in getting the issue resolved expeditiously.
The Provincial President said that the PWD Minister has assured to pursue this matter vigorously at the highest level so that the people are not put to unnecessary burden.
Mr Rana wondered levying of the tax to vehicles travelling between Jammu to Nagrota constituency or within the Nagrota constituency, saying those handling the matter in Delhi do not have the understanding of the topography and terrain of the area. They should understand that Nagrota Assembly constituency forms extended part of the greater Jammu. He said the inhabitants of Nagrota constituency are required to visit Jammu quite frequently in pursuit of jobs, education of children and even the errands. “The tax is being imposed for day to day mobility”, he said adding that the people reserve right to protest against this arbitrary decision. He said levying of tax has not only affected the Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims and tourists going to Kashmir but those travelling between various areas from Lakhanpur to Udhampur are also facing the brunt.
“The implementation of the decision is highly arbitrary and the NH1A is showing scant regard for public sensitivity, as this anti-people measure has not only impacted the commuters, both using public and private transport, but give rise to prices of essentials due to enhancement in freight of consumer goods”, he maintained.
The Provincial President regretted the State Government has not been showing urgency in taking up the matter with the concerned Union Ministry for Surface Transport to have the decision deferred till a rationalisation structure is evolved, which will be acceptable to the people, especially the stake holders.
Mr Rana hoped that the government will not make further delay and force people to come again on streets. “Last time the protesting people had deferred their strike on the assurance of the Government but now it appears that they have no regard for public sentiment, he added.
Those who were present included Sarpanch Khurshaid Ali, Sarpanch Dhan Pritam Singh , Sarpanch Mohammad Sadiq, Sarpanch Raghuvir Singh, Haji Alam Din, Balwan Singh, Liaqat Ali, Des Raj, Balram Singh, Master Ranjit Singh, Master Baldev Singh, Junait Ali, Smt. Neelam, Noor Jahan, Omkar Singh, Raju, Abdul Gafoor, Mohd Saleem, Maddi, Arjun Singh, Parshant Khajuria, Sudershan Singh, Rajeshwar Singh, Shakeel Ahmad, Rajinder Singh(Tinku) and others.
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