DIMAPUR, May 29 – In a startling revelation, damning indictment of the rot of State machinery, the Naga Council Dimapur virtually exposed the total break down of law and order in Nagaland by pointing at the failure by state authorities to check illegal collections by various organizations creating absolute havoc to the fragile local economy. The Council stating that the rampant mushrooming of illegal tax collectors on goods have triggered escalation in prices of essential commodities appealed the government, the NSCN-IM and all concerned to jointly take on such collection systems.
Representatives of the Naga Council Dimapur pointed out that more than 10 different organizations operating in Dimapur alone impose various taxes on the same commodity, which are, ironically, more than the total cost of production of the commodity involved. Viewing seriously the ‘illegal collections’ it cautioned that the people would not tolerate these things for long. The Council said that innocent public was made victimised by such devices. The Council has also accused the district administration and the Dimapur Town Committee for their failure to check and control skyrocketing prices of commodities. It also did not spare the now virtually defunct Dimapur Chamber of Commerce for miserably failing in its duties to look into such anomalies.
The council further attributed the spiraling rise in prices of essential commodities to illegal collections by those booming units/organizations, which ultimately leads to backlash on the public who often had to bear the brunt of rising costs. It opined that the state government and the Government of Peoples’ Republic of Nagaland (NSCN) should check illegal collections jointly. It also appealed Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio led State government to destroy or ban such units/organizations through legislation so that illegal collections are stopped and the consumers freed from such exploitations.
The council, meanwhile, appealed to the GPRN (Naga underground groups) to re-impose ban on such organizations, which has of late reared its ugly head after a lull of about 6 months. It may be mentioned that GPRN (NSCN organizations) had earlier enforced ban on such organizations for illegal practices. It is pertinent to mention here that among the commodities, prices of cement and sand suddenly shot up recently to the bewilderment of the consumers. In this regard, the Council asked the GPRN to discontinue the idea of issuing exclusive license to a coterie of a few cement stockists and instead allow all cement dealers to bring cements in bulk so that there is competition among them. Furthermore the Council also suggested that cement dealers should not retain the items for retail sale. The Council officials have proposed to meet the GPRN leadership in the near future in this regard.
Reiterating that it harbours no grudge against anyone, the Council cautioned the government that failing to address the issue would compel the former to resort to democratic means of action to curb the menace.