‘Rid system of corruption’
EMN
Dimapur, March 23
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] community organization representing ward populations in urban Dimapur has asked the government of Naga to extend the duration for Toll Tax the Dimapur Municipal Council collects. The contention was that the tax was now being used for development of public amenities, which otherwise would have been lost in the cycle of corruption.
The Dimapur Urban Councils’ Chairmen Federation issued a press release on Monday supporting the municipal council and it’s for-now judicious use of the toll tax. The DUCCF is said to have more than seventy colonies from ward 1 to the 23rd of the municipal areas.The organizations appreciated the Government of Nagaland for “allowing the Dimapur Municipal Council to collect the Toll Tax for three months (January to March) on trail basis.”
However, the forum appealed to the government to extend the ‘period of toll tax collection’ for three months at a time or whatever duration the government deems fit, ‘till such time DMC election is held.’
The community leaders stated: “DUCCF appeals the government on this matter for tangible development to take place in Dimapur city. The Naga public had witnessed that the DMC under the dynamic leadership of Shri H. Atokhe Aye, administration DMC, in consultation and cooperation with the mass based civil societies, has done commendable work with the developmental budget saved from the toll tax collections for the months of January to March 2015.”
That, the forum explained, “shows the commitment of an honest administrator and his team.” According to the forum, the ‘developmental initiative’ by the municipal council itself was “proof enough to the government and also vindicates the decision of the government in allowing the DMC to collect Toll Tax.”
“Now the public has realized the demerits of corrupt lessee system. And it is the common feelings that the lessee system should never be introduced again and DMC must be allowed to collect Toll Tax if the government is really concern for the development of Dimapur,’ the community leaders stated.
The organization states its ‘wholehearted support’ to the initiative of the Dimapur Municipal Council “under the positive decision and order of the government of Nagaland.” The DUCCF will “always endeavor to support any developmental works initiated by the government agencies,” it added.
