No entry tax, but pay fees on extra tonnes: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 11 May 2013 19:20 IST
Goa government is prepared to abolish the entry tax on vehicles of essential commodities, provided the vehicles pay extra fee on goods beyond seven tonnes.
Talking to a group of media persons today afternoon, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said he is prepared to start a system like Gujarat, where additional fees are charged beyond permitted limits of goods in one vehicle.
The issue of entry tax has started heating up once again as the All India Motor Transport Congress has threatened to stop transportation of essential commodities to Goa from tomorrow midnight.
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Belgaum, Hubli and Kolhapur had earlier agreed to sizeable reduction in entry tax fees on vehicles bringing essential commodities to Goa.
Goa government charges Entry Tax of Rs 500 to four-wheeler goods vehicles and Rs 1000 to six-wheeler vehicles.
“I am prepared to charge Rs 1000 on each extra tonne in a vehicle beyond seven tonnes and scrap the entry tax, like what is being done in Gujarat”, said the chief minister.
According to him, all the trucks bring goods up to 10 to 18 tonnes, for which the government would charge only Rs 1000.
With the new proposal, the vehicles however will have to pay from Rs 3000 to Rs 11,000 extra beyond seven tonnes.
Though the Chambers had agreed, the transporters fear that the Goa model of entry tax may be replicated all over India; thus the opposition.
Parrikar however once again clarified that it is not a tax imposed to enter the state but a one-time fee collected for the infrastructure like roads and bridges used by the vehicles in Goa.
When asked how he would deal with the situation if essential goods are stopped once again, Parrikar said Goa has enough stock of all kind of essential goods.
Goa gets all kind of essential goods like fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, fish, grains, cereals etc from Karwar, Belgaum, Hubli, Kolhapur and other neighbouring districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Goa has good asphalted road connectivity. Moreover there are no toll charged on any bridges or roads. No octroi tax. The petrol is cheapest as compared to rest of India. The cheap liquor is additional attraction which is profusely being enjoyed by outsiders entering Goa.
It may also be noted that both the neighbouring states create additional problems like Mhadei diversion and impediments as water-sharing of Tillari river.
Taking all these things into consideration one cannot justify the stoppage of essential goods to Goa by truckers from the other states.
Goa Government must remain firm on the introduction of the entry-tax.
I have seen in Maharashtra how road toll is being charged in addition to octroi tax. These charges are being paid by these truckers without hitch. Why they have issues in Goa only. The one of the reason could be the strike is being supported internally by some interested people who are against the present Govt in Goa.