Multiple illegal taxations driving business to verge of collapse: CNCCI

May 13, 2023 140 Views No Comment

Asks Nagaland govt who is in charge?

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 13

Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) said that doing business in Nagaland is getting more difficult by the day in the midst of multiple illegal taxations. Given the situation, CNCCI Chairperson, Dr Kheghuka Muru told a press conference that the members of the forum from across the state sat down on May 12 to discuss and deliberate on the challenges facing the business community of the state.

Dr Muru said that it arrived at certain resolutions, among which included addressing the issue of multiple taxations by as many as 18 Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and unauthorised civilians and organisations allegedly taking law into their own hands in the form of conducting “random checks” of business establishments.

He said thatit has come to a stage wherein one group alone imposes taxes at multiples levels over and above the taxations by the various groups.According to him, unabated taxation has driven businesses to the verge of collapse. “We are yet to come back from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have come to a point where we are on the verge of breakdown,” he said. While stating that “syndicate system and licence raj run by the various political groups” has to stop, he added that unless it is curbed, the businesses will not entertain taxation by the NPGs and maintained that if anything happens to any of its members, the business community will stand firm in unison.

If at all the market and business has to exist, he added that the state government has to take effective measures and come clear whether the taxations by the NPGs are legal or illegalin the eyes of the government. According to it, if it is illegal, the government must curb it.

With regard to the alleged “random checking” of businesses by civilians on the pretext of checking expired or sub-standards products, he said that it has turned out to be a big harassment. While stating that consumers have every right to complain, he though maintained that there are protocols to it. Checking it demands the establishment of a committee headed by Food Safety officials or the administration alongwith the inclusion of CNCCI and civil society representatives as members.

“Multiple authorities” or parallel governments was another predicament facing the business community,pointed out the CNCCI. According to Dr Muru, people and businesses are confused as to which set of rules to adhere to when they are faced with separate rules from the 18 NPGs, over and above the governmental guidelines.

He said that there are situations when certain things declared legal by the government are banned by the NPGs and vice versa. According to him, the government must set the record straight as to “who is in charge?”

Queried on the legality of colony councils collecting tax from street vendors, he replied that it would be deemed illegal unless there was approval from the government.