Entry tax row: Belglaum stops supplies, Kolhapur to follow
PTI, PANAJI | 16 April 2013 14:44 IST
BCCI chairman Satish Tendolkar
Goa might find its stocks of essential commodities getting dried up from tomorrow as Belgaum and Kolhapur transporters have threatened to stop the supplies if the Goa's entry tax is not rolled back.
The associations including The Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), Kolhapur District Lorry Operators Association (KDLOA) and All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) have joined forces to protest Goa government’s entry tax on the vehicles entering the state, which is imposed since yesterday.
BCCI President Satish Tendolkar told reporters in Goa that Belgaum Vegetable Owners Association has already stopped their supplies to Goa since yesterday, immediately after the entry tax was imposed.
All other traders and transporters will join them tomorrow, if Goa does not roll back the tax, he added.
Similar threat has also been given by KDLOA President Subhash Jadhav who has warned to stop the supplies of groceries and milk to the coastal state.
Goa is largely dependent on its neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka for the supplies of essential commodities.
The one-time entry tax collected at the border check posts is Rs 500 to Rs 1000 on goods vehicles - tempos to six-tyre trucks.
The coastal state expects to collect Rs 100 crore annually through this new tax.
“While our chamber fully supports the government’s drive to garner additional revenue for the state through every possible means, we wish to point out that the move to levy this particular entry tax on vehicles may be counterproductive,” Tendolkar claimed talking to reporters in Goa today.
The representatives of BCCI, KDLOA and AIMTC were down in Panaji to meet the Chief Minister and request him to abolish the tax.
Tendolkar said that both – Goa and Karnataka, would be at loss if there is imposition of such tax as prices of essential commodities will be increased, as the traders will pass on the additional burden to the consumers.
KDLOA President Subhash Jadhav said the suppliers from Kolhapur have decided to halt the supplies from tomorrow in order to pressurise the Goa government to withdraw the tax.
AIMTC President Shanmugappa G R claimed that Goa is the only state to impose such a tax.
“There are tolls for various bridges on the National Highway which are collected by the union government. This is for the first time that any state government is collecting the tax,” he added.
Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Manguirish Pai Raikar told reporters that the amicable solution can be worked out with the chambers of neighbouring states, provided Goa government is willing to work towards it.
Following Goa government’s action of imposing the tax, the neighouring districts had emerged in protests since yesterday.
Goa registration vehicles were stopped at Banda village in Maharashtra by a group, which has given a deadline of 15 days for the state government to withdraw the tax.
