Traders agree to Entry Tax concession, resume goods supply
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 23 April 2013 17:36 IST
CM Parrikar after meeting on Entry Tax issue
The stalemate over the Entry Tax row appears to be finally over. The traders from Kolhapur, Belgaum and Hubli have agreed to concessional rate of Entry Tax, after meeting Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar today.
They have agreed to resume the supply of all essential goods from today itself.
Following the meeting, Parrikar told media that the rates of concessional monthly pass would be finalised by 30 April.
Till then, the exemption declared for the vehicles from Belgaum, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg and Karwar would continue, he said.
The meeting was held at the Assembly complex today, attended by Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Belgaum, Kolhapur and Hubli.
PWD minister Sudin Dhawalikar and GCCI President Mangirish Pai Raikar were also present at the brief meeting.
Parrikar clarified that the monthly passes would be issued to the regular goods vehicles carrying the essential goods to Goa, on daily basis.
Goa gets essential goods like fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, chicken, grains, cereals etc from the neighbouring districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
A joint memorandum presented by all the three chambers made a plea to Goa chief minister to charge them at concessional rates.
“We also understand that Goa needs revenue to build its infrastructure. We never demanded total abolition of Entry Tax”, said Satish Tendolkar, president of Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He also expressed confidence that Goa government would bring down the Entry Tax by bringing down the amount drastically.
Goa government charges Entry Tax of Rs 500 to four-wheeler goods vehicles and Rs 1000 to six-wheeler vehicles.
No representative of All India Motor Transport Congress or Kolhapur Lorry Owners’ Association was present at the joint meeting.
Tendolkar however said confidently that the truckers would agree to the understanding they have reached with the Goa government.
The truckers from all these areas were on a warpath and had stopped plying on Goa route in protest of the Entry Tax, though they were presently exempted.
“The supply would begin from today itself”, said Tendolkar.
Parrikar said the solution in principle has been worked out after realizing that the traders should also not be burdened with heavy amount of tax when they ply regularly.
Tendolkar said they did not want to have a bitter relationship with Goa, which is integral part of the whole region trading with each other for so many years.
All the Chamber representatives also thanked GCCI president Raikar for taking initiative in resolving the stalemate amicably.
The joint memorandum has made following six demands:
1. Monthly pass system for vehicles entering Goa frequently
2. Rate of Entry Fee be reduced by 75% for the Pass Holders
3. Pass stickers to be issued to vehicles for display
4. Separate lane at Entry Point for Pass Holders
5. 50% concession for vehicles carrying industrial raw materials
6. The 4 hour time frame for returning to be increased to 6 hours
The meeting was attended by BCCI president Tendolkar, Kolhapur Chambers vice president Sanjay Shetye, Karnataka Chamber vice president Vasant Ladawa, Kolhapur Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee member Nayan Prasade, Karnataka Small Industries Association Co-Chairman Ashok Gadag and Belgaum Small Scale Industries Association member Vikas Kalghatgi.
We Trust our CM Parrikar at present and how he is handling present crisis in our Golden Goa.
We can grow almost everything in Goa and be self-sufficient.
Do it Right. CM stick to your Guns.
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