Dimapur, Sep. 10 (EMN): The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has sought the intervention of the chief secretary to curb the menace of multiple taxations and to implement security and reconstruction of financial assets and enforcement of security interest (SARFAESI) Act.
In a representation to the chief secretary, CNCCI demanded to resolve multiple taxations by Naga political groups (NPG) and government agencies. It claimed that multiple taxations by various NPG and government agencies including the municipal council and town council in the form of item tax has burdened the business community thereby making them difficult to engage in any meaningful business activities.
A CNCCI’s press release jointly issued by its chairman, Dr. Khekugha Muru, and the general secretary, Dr. Seyievilie Mor, lamented that the government seemed to be in no mood to address the probelms with seriousness despite the issues being flagged to the government on many occasions.
It mentioned that the same issue was recently raised by the DCCI in local media. It added that CNCCI had taken the issue raised by the DCCI with utmost seriousness as it does not only limit to Dimapur district but the whole business community of Nagaland.
CNCCI, therefore, demanded to government to immediately show its will and address the issue of multiple taxation levied by various NPG and be made known to the business community. It also demanded that the items tax/ fees collected on items that comes under GST regime by various municipal and town council be immediately stopped as the GST has subsumed all other taxes under ‘one nation one tax.’
CNCCI also demanded to immediately stop various other taxes levied at various gates by government department/ agencies which falls under GST.
CNCCI also demanded to immediately implement SARFAESI (security and reconstruction of financial assets and enforcement of security interest) Act, the issue to which it had raised for the last three years on various platforms and through representation to the chief minister.
It claimed that the business community is now facing more hardship as many banks have stopped fresh loans or fresh enhancement even on cadastral land despite your order no. FIN/GEN/SLBC/12/2012 (Part) dated 12 May 2021.
The CNCCI expected the government to be a facilitator rather than stumbling block for business community and educated unemployed youths.
The CNCCI, therefore, demanded to call for a special assembly session for implementation of SARFAESI Act.
While stating that the business community bore large portion of financial revenue in the form of trade license, sanitation tax, passenger vehicular tax, gate tax, gate tax etc. for effective and sustained functioning of municipal council, town and adhoc town councils in Nagaland, it lamented that all decisions taken in respect to business related activities including various civic body taxation were made without the representation of the stakeholders/ business community.
It added that non representation of business community in civic bodies defeats the whole purpose of grassroots governance, which the government of Nagaland is proud of. CNCCI, therefore, demanded that there should be ‘reserved nominee representation’ of business and trade bodies representation in all the municipal council, town and Adhoc toen council across Nagaland.
In the light of above statement circumstance, CNCCI anticipated that the chief secretary would act upon with utmost urgency with all seriousness. The CNCCI further cautioned that it would be compelled to explore all means for redressal including legal as well as going for indefinite voluntary closure of shops across the state to express its displeasure in the event of lackadaisical attitude shown by the government.
