Mussoorie, June 10
The Mussoorie Municipal Council that had given the contract of collecting eco-tax levied on the vehicles of tourists at the Kholhukhet barrier to private parties a few days ago has received a jolt. The Commissioner Garhwal, acting on a complaint filed by Ajay Goel, has directed the Municipal Council to stop collecting eco-tax at the Kholhukhet barrier immediately. He has sought explanation from the council detailing reasons for levying the tax even though the Nainital High Court had ordered a ban on all such taxes in the state.
Harak Singh Rawat, Additional Commissioner Garhwal, in a letter written on behalf of the Commissioner Garhwal to the Municipal Council, has said the collection of eco-tax at the Kholhukhet barrier should be stopped immediately. The Commissioner has directed the Municipal Council to submit a reply on the levying of tax despite a 2011 order of the Uttarakhand government issued after amending the UP Municipalities Act imposing a ban on entry or toll tax on vehicles in the state.
The Nainital High Court has also prohibited Municipal Councils or Zila Panchayats from levying entry tax.
However, the Mussoorie Municipal Council had leased out the Kholhukhet barrier to private contractors and was collecting eco-tax, flouting orders of the High Court and the government.
The Commissioner has sought an explanation for the reasons behind collecting such tax from the vehicle owners and asked for submission of a reply within one week.
The Commissioner has also directed the Dehradun Zila Panchayat to stop collecting goods tax from the vehicles at Kothal Gate, said complainant Ajay Goel.
The Commissioner said it be ensured that the court directives in the matter were followed. Social activists and organisations, which have been opposing the Municipal Council move, have received a shot in the arm with this letter of the Garhwal Commissioner.
They say the Municipal Council should return the money collected from vehicle owners and the exercise of collecting eco-tax be stopped permanently to provide relief to tourists and residents.
The ward members, namely Megh Singh Kandari, Anuj Gupta and Jasvir Kaur, who have been opposing the exercise, said the barrier was leased out to private parties for Rs 1.75 crore by the Municipal Council despite widespread opposition only to benefit a few individuals here.
Anuj Gupta said the matter had reached the High Court again as Ajay Goel had filed a petition and the next hearing is on June 15. All those responsible for introducing eco-tax and then leasing the barrier to private parties be penalised for not following the high court orders.
Tribune News Service
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