Belgaum joins Kolhapur to 'Boycott Goa' on Entry Tax
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 21 April 2013 22:09 IST
Kolhapur truckers' chief Subhash Jadhav
The issue of entry tax is heating up as Belgaum and surrounding districts of Karnataka have joined the ‘Boycott Goa’ action started by Kolhapur and Sangli traders and transporters since Thursday.
All the traders and transport operators have started implementing the decision taken yesterday in Belgaum to stop sending essential goods to Goa, said Subhash Jadhav, Kolhapur Lorry Operators’ Association president.
While talking to goanews.com, Jadhav firmly said nobody would travel to Goa until the entry tax is abolished.
Anand Mane, president of the Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also said the whole trade and industry has decided to support the ‘Boycott Goa’ action.
According to Jadhav, Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra are now supported by Belgaum, Nipani, Khanapur, Dharwar and Davangiri districts of Karnataka.
The information reveals that around 12 tempos and 40 trucks come to Goa from Kolhapur while 40 trucks come from Belgaum.
While the tempos are charged Rs 500 as entry tax, trucks are charged Rs 1000 while entering Goa.
“We have already diverted our goods to much bigger markets of Pune, Nasik, Mumbai, Aurangabad and Solapur”, Jadhav informed goanews.com.
However, Jadhav admitted that 50 per cent of trade is still not stopped due to contracts signed by some traders with Goa traders.
“The issue is mainly with the milk societies and we would sort it out by tomorrow”, he said confidently.
Kolhapur supplies around 30,000 litres of milk, besides Nandini from Belgaum and Mahanand from Pune.
The Kolhapur market is primarily related to grains as well as potato, onion, garlic etc while Belgaum market mainly supplies fruits and vegetables.
In a surprising disclosure, Jadhav said neither Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar nor PWD minister Sudin Dhawalikar gave them an option of monthly pass for entry tax at concessional rate.
“But more than entry tax of Goa, we are worried that all states would follow the pattern and it would be difficult for us to enter any state of the country without paying the entry tax in future”, said Jadhav.
He also alleged that Goa government charges entry tax even while leaving the state next day, as they are told that the tax applies only for one day.
When it was pointed out to him that Goa government is not charging entry tax to the vehicles from Sindhudurg, Belgaum and Karwar till date, Jadhav said the ‘Boycott Goa’ is a clear indication that they have rejected the temporary exemption, for a permanent solution.
When it was pointed out that their tempos and trucks fill the tank while going back since the diesel in Goa is much cheaper than Maharashtra and Karnataka, Jadhav said it does not make such a big difference.
In fact he welcomed Parrikar’s reported suggestion to charge more VAT on diesel than imposing the entry tax.
“We don’t look at the issue only from Goa point of view, but fear that the concept may spread countrywide”, he said once again.
