Doraha, July 11
The movement of goods in the state was affected today as transporters went on a day’s token strike in protest against the imposition of toll tax on National Highway No. 1 from Doraha to Delhi.
Transporters from all over the state arrived in the city and went in procession to the venue of the protest — an open stretch of land facing the toll tax booths on the highway. A strong posse of police was present to prevent any untoward incident, though there were some tense moments when a section of the protesters squatted on one of the lanes and raised slogans against the “anti-transporter” policies of the government.
Terming the toll tax as “arbitrary and illegal” Mr J.M. Saxena, circle secretary, All-India Motor Transport Congress, told TNS that this was an indication that the government was “bent on destroying” the transport sector in the country. This sector had been silently putting up with the hurdles put in their way by the Centre and the state governments from time to time. Freight charges were already high and the toll tax was imposed right after the government imposed a cess of Re 1 on June 2, 1998, and a similar cess on petrol in March 1999, he pointed out.
Coming down heavily on the move, he said why should anyone pay for the same roads twice. Everyone pays road tax and other assorted taxes and this highway was built a long time ago. “It is not that we are against toll, but where is the super expressway that justifies such exorbitant charges,” he questioned.
The transporters had been battling recession for quite some time and some of them had even opted out of their business since the returns were too meagre to pay the instalment charges and eke out a living at the same time. Instead of subsidies, like other vital sectors, the transporters had been saddled with new taxes and tolls, he lamented.
“This matter will be discussed when 121 members of the congress from all states meet in Pune on July 19 to chalk out the future strategy. The issue of getting certain benefits for this vital sector of the economy will be discussed at the meeting,” he added.
Many transporters who did not wish to be named said the revenue of the petrol and diesel cess had been imposed to finance the National Highway Authority of India. As much as 32 per cent of the total road revenue too goes to the NHAI. It was proposed that this cess might be decreased a little and the revenue might be totally handed over to the NHAI instead of imposing unrealistic toll taxes in the country, they suggested.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Pandher, president of the Punjab State Goods Transporters Association said this was a major setback after the truck unions were disbanded by the Punjab Chief Minister some time ago. People with old vehicles were the most affected since they could no longer ply their vehicles on shorter routes without inviting action from the authorities.
