SHILLONG: With Iewduh shut post-COVID situation, vegetable vendors who were accommodated at the makeshift market in a government building have been sore that they were subjected to payment of daily taxes. Many of them are being duped in paying the “fees” collected by unknown persons unclear whether they are authorised or not.
On paying a visit to the wholesale market at Anjalee parking lot on Thursday, this reporter found that there was a glaring variation in the amount of fees being collected as some pay Rs 30-Rs 50 while there are others who have to pay upto Rs 180.
A hue and cry was raised when the Shillong Municipal Board collected Rs 10 per unit of sale (1 bag or 1 bundle or1 basket or 1 cone basket etc., from each seller and Rs 500 per truck and Rs 300 per pick-up truck from the vehicles transporting vegetables from the 1st floor parking.
The farmers said that after the collection of basket fees, there is the collection for the stalls. Apparently, farmers are being asked to pay fees not more than thrice in a day. In addition, the farmers are already burdened with hiring vehicles to transport their goods.
An upset farmer, Bashisha Nongrum, said that she was opposed to the collection of fees. “We have been told it is a market place and we can come to sell our goods here”, she said.
Another farmer, Barimon Nongrum said that she was charged only Rs 30 for setting up the stall. “There was a time when I was yet to unload the commodities and I was told to give money which depended on the amount of commodities which can range from Rs 70-Rs100. We farmers cannot shell out money all the time”, Barimon said.
A coriander seller, Kersnolin Mawlong from Krang in Nongthliew said that there are days when it is profitable even though there is a charge.
Again, another farmer said she paid Rs 50 for setting up the stall and in a day pays Rs 180 in addition to the transportation cost of Rs 1500-Rs 2000. “In this way, I cannot make out whether there are losses or gains”.
While there are some farmers who flatly refused to pay the fees, after a media report that the Urban Affairs Minister Hamlet Dohling had directed SMB to stop fees collection.
Dohling clarifies
When contacted Dohling asserted that no tax should be imposed on the farmers and the government is sensitive about the matter as it is a crisis period.
“I am not happy with the way the order was issued by the municipality so I have directed that the order passed by the municipality should be revoked immediately. No tax should be imposed on the farmers”, he said.
Further, he said, “This is a temporary arrangement and it is not wise for the department or the government to tax the farmers as this is a crisis time. It is not wise to pressure the farmers by collecting fees from them”.
He said that he was alerted about the collection of fees only on the information passed by a journalist that collection of fees is taking place in wholesale market at Anjalee parking lot, at the rate of Rs 10.
He said that he has called his officers to verify whether it is true or not but there was an order issued by the Municipal to collect Rs 10 per bundle per cone and per basket.
Dohling said that it is the duty of the SMB workers to clean the market.
