SHILLONG: The KSU, JSU and East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association have joined hands to demand putting on hold the recent order for revision of vehicular taxes within one week.
“We demand that the notification on revision of taxes of motor vehicle be put on hold within one week,” KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling told reporters a meeting of the three organisations here on Wednesday.
The organisations have threatened to resort to agitation if the Government failed to comply with their demand.
The Government has effected four-to-five times hike in the vehicular taxes without even thinking what ramification it would have on the public, Dohling said.
The KSU leader was of the view that the Government should have sought the views and suggestions of the various stakeholders before taking a final call on the revision of taxes.
Citing the revision of road tax for local taxis from Rs 460 to Rs 2600, he said this type of multiple hike is unreasonable. Besides the road tax, the local taxis have to pay Rs 2700 as passenger tax, Rs 1905 for installing HSRP, Rs 17,680 as one time tax, Rs 400 for fitness, Rs 50 for pollution test and Rs 10,000 as insurance.
“Taking all these into account, the taxi owner would have to pay around Rs 32,000 to the Government in the form of various taxes. After paying such a huge amount it would be impossible for a person to make a living out of local taxi,” the KSU leader said.
Meanwhile, EKHLTWA general secretary Wandonbok Jyrwa has called upon the local taxi owners not to pay their taxes until the matter is resolved.