By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Cabinet will discuss the controversial hike in the exorbitant taxes on vehicles imposed by the State Government after the state NGOs protested against the unprecedented hike.
In this regard, a delegation of Khasi Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Union and East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association on Monday met the State Transport Minister AT Mondal and others.
The meeting demanded for re-examination of the rate of road tax for motor vehicles while the State Government maintained that the hike was needed to raise additional revenue for the State.
The NGOs, however, reiterated that the Government should fix a reasonable rate as the present tax was too high.
“Our fight is for the interest of people who operate commercial vehicles and common man and the government has also agreed that the issue will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting since the hike was adopted by the cabinet decision this year”, the NGOs added.
Mondal while speaking to reporters after the meeting said, “The more resources we generate, the more funds we get next year,” adding that the hike has come up after a gap of 12 years.
It is learnt that the State Government is likely to earn revenue of Rs 30 crore from motor vehicle road tax annually.
As per the government notification, the road tax for the three-wheeler passenger vehicles carrying four to six persons has been increased to Rs 1800 annually from the previous rate of Rs 420.
For the local passenger taxis, the road tax will be Rs 2600 annually from the current Rs 460 while the owners of the tourist taxis have to pay the road tax of Rs 4800 from the existing rate of Rs 1440.
Similarly, the tax for other vehicles carrying seven to twelve passengers has also been fixed at Rs 5700 from the current Rs 3000 and the ambulances were also not exempted freedom the road tax as it has been fixed at Rs 2500.
The State Government however has decided that composite taxes would remain the same like previous year.
The NGOs are eyeing the upcoming State Cabinet meeting which will decide whether the hike should be reviewed or the new rates should continue.