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Tribune News Service
Mussoorie, May 29
The collection of goods tax by the Zila Panchayat (ZP) Dehradun at Chuna Khala since yesterday has irked the Mussoorie Municipal Council. It is seeking relocation of the barrier from here to Kothal Gate to avoid inconvenience to people here.
Mussoorie Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall today received a complaint that the Zila Panchayat contractors were collecting tax on vehicles laden with goods heading towards Mussoorie at Chuna Khala, which falls under the Mussoorie’s municipal limits.
The MC president directed officials to reach Chuna Khala and stop Zila Parishad contractors from collecting tax under municipal council limits and relocate their barrier to either Kothal Gate or elsewhere under Zila Panchayat limits. MC executive officer RK Dayal reached Chuna Khala and found that the ZP contractors were collecting tax from every goods vehicle heading towards Mussoorie.
RK Dayal informed the contractors that ZP contractors were encroaching on Municipal Council rights, should stop the practice and collect the tax at Kothal Gate or elsewhere and not in the Municipal Council Mussoorie limits.
Dayal also alleged that the ZP contractors were charging tourists too, which was uncalled for. The ZP contractors, at first, refused to budge and said the area from where they were working fell under the boundaries of Bhatta village, that is under the purview of Zila Panchayat Dehradun. However, later after a heated agreement, they finally relented and agreed to shift their collection tables to some other place in a few days. Rinku Thapli, an employee of the Zila Panchayat contractor, said they were within their rights to collect tax and had shifted here from Kothal Gate due to the complaints being received by them that the tourists were also being charged.
Thapli said the Zila Panchayat had hired them on contract for the work and they were not doing anything illegal. Zila Panchayat president Chaman Singh said he would look into the matter.
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