SHILLONG, Dec 12: Continuing his tirade against the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council’s (GHADC) proposed move, Tura MDC Bernard Marak has petitioned Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik urging him not to approve the new Trading by Non-Tribals (TNT) ordinance passed by the GHADC.
In a letter to the Governor, the MDC alleged that the newly passed bill by the NPP-led Executive Committee in the Council aims to hike the tax on trading by non-tribals through a bill against public consent and consultation with the trading communities and concerned MDCs.
He said that the bill targets non-tribal traders in Garo Hills especially amid such a time when the onslaught of the pandemic has badly affected the trading community, tribals and non-tribals alike.
He further alleged that non-tribal traders are forcibly made to pay an unapproved rate for fresh trading licence and its renewal, which has ‘gravely’ affected them.
“The tax which has been hiked ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 and even up to Rs 10,000 in some cases which has become too heavy for many traders as the trading in Garo Hills has been badly affected because of lockdown and infiltration of outsiders. The bill should be stopped on humanitarian ground,” he said.
He also alleged that the GHADC has been realising revenue from the new tax system without the Governor’s approval of the ordinance, and added that the Executive Committee has been implementing the new revised rates since July 1, 2020.
Bernard’s letter stated that the tax which was imposed on non-tribals before the introduction of new rates was also not approved by the previous Governors.
“GHADC was imposing taxes at will and has been working outside the ambit of the Constitution which I feel is a misuse of power and should not be allowed for the interest of the general public,” the letter stated.
“I came to know from a confidential source that the present Executive Committee in GHADC is sharing a major portion of the revenue which is deposited into the Council treasury with the state and some other entities. The attempt to introduce GST to clear the debts of the funds misused by GHADC is also part of their plan which I strongly oppose and pray that you do not give consent to. For that reason, unconstitutional practices and implementation of the unapproved taxes need to be immediately stopped,” he added.
