VARANASI: The bid of contractors of Zila Panchayat (ZP) to realise ferry tax from boatmen operating boats on the Ganga has generated a new controversy. The boatmen are terming it a violation of their Fundamental Rights and warning that if the `religious activities' were brought under the taxation, they would be compelled to a decisive battle. As a first step, they staged a massive demonstration at Zila Panchayat on Monday and did not operate their boats for the day.
They alleged that the contractors of ZP were forcing them to pay Rs 100 on the operation of bazra (big size boats) and Rs 50 for small boats or Rs 2 per passenger. This amount was being realised after every trip they made. They warned that if the decision to realise ferry tax from the boatmen was not withdrawn, they would intensify their agitation and also stop boat operation on the day of the Dev Deepawali.
Their another contention was that the Zila Panchayat's jurisdiction was limited to boats being used totally for commercial purposes and not over those being used for religious ones that had procured their licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN).
According to mukhya adhikari of ZP Rajendra Prasad, the contract to realise ferry tax from the boatmen is allotted twice a year. This time it started with the beginning of October. He said tax realisation is done at the ghats that have been designated as `nauka ghat'. The Dashashwamedh Ghat is also among such nauka ghats. Boatmen operating from Asi to Rajghat come under this ghat, most of who have licence of VNN. Prasad said boatmen who take contract for ferrying for commercial gains come under the process of taxation.
With the allotment of fresh contract by ZP, boatmen with licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam and operating on the Ganga along the scenic ghats are also being forced by the contractors to pay ferry tax. It made the boatmen fraternity angry and they reached ZP on Monday to register their protest. The president of Maa Ganga Nishad Raj Seva Samiti, Vinod Kumar Nishad, said since time immemorial, religious activities like Mundan, Yajnopavit, Ganga Pujaiyya and others had been taking place on the banks of the Ganga. He said ferrying people for performing such rituals was their main source of income. But, now the same activities were being brought under the process of taxation, which would put burden on them as their income was very meagre.
Ramesh Chopra of Ganga Seva Abhiyan claimed the boatmen had been operating on the Ganga for generations, but neither the Mughals nor the Britishers imposed any tax on the religious activities. He admitted that there was a provision to realise tax from boats that were carrying goods like wood, vegetable, milk and passengers. But, the ZP had now imposed tax on those boatmen who were the integral part of religious activities. It was an open violation of the Fundamental Rights given to every Indian by the Constitution. He said when the government was not providing any facility to the boatmen, then how could any agency force them to pay tax. The boatmen termed the ferry tax as 'Goonda Tax'. He also questioned how Zila Panchayat could realise tax from boatmen who had procured their licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam.
Municipal commissioner Nand Kishore made it very clear that the boats operating in VNN's area of jurisdiction were bound to seek licence from the same agency. But, there was no provision of realising any ferry tax in VNN, he claimed. However, the ZP mukhya adhikari said as the matter was contradictory, it would be taken to the court of the divisional commissioner.
They alleged that the contractors of ZP were forcing them to pay Rs 100 on the operation of bazra (big size boats) and Rs 50 for small boats or Rs 2 per passenger. This amount was being realised after every trip they made. They warned that if the decision to realise ferry tax from the boatmen was not withdrawn, they would intensify their agitation and also stop boat operation on the day of the Dev Deepawali.
Their another contention was that the Zila Panchayat's jurisdiction was limited to boats being used totally for commercial purposes and not over those being used for religious ones that had procured their licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN).
According to mukhya adhikari of ZP Rajendra Prasad, the contract to realise ferry tax from the boatmen is allotted twice a year. This time it started with the beginning of October. He said tax realisation is done at the ghats that have been designated as `nauka ghat'. The Dashashwamedh Ghat is also among such nauka ghats. Boatmen operating from Asi to Rajghat come under this ghat, most of who have licence of VNN. Prasad said boatmen who take contract for ferrying for commercial gains come under the process of taxation.
With the allotment of fresh contract by ZP, boatmen with licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam and operating on the Ganga along the scenic ghats are also being forced by the contractors to pay ferry tax. It made the boatmen fraternity angry and they reached ZP on Monday to register their protest. The president of Maa Ganga Nishad Raj Seva Samiti, Vinod Kumar Nishad, said since time immemorial, religious activities like Mundan, Yajnopavit, Ganga Pujaiyya and others had been taking place on the banks of the Ganga. He said ferrying people for performing such rituals was their main source of income. But, now the same activities were being brought under the process of taxation, which would put burden on them as their income was very meagre.
Ramesh Chopra of Ganga Seva Abhiyan claimed the boatmen had been operating on the Ganga for generations, but neither the Mughals nor the Britishers imposed any tax on the religious activities. He admitted that there was a provision to realise tax from boats that were carrying goods like wood, vegetable, milk and passengers. But, the ZP had now imposed tax on those boatmen who were the integral part of religious activities. It was an open violation of the Fundamental Rights given to every Indian by the Constitution. He said when the government was not providing any facility to the boatmen, then how could any agency force them to pay tax. The boatmen termed the ferry tax as 'Goonda Tax'. He also questioned how Zila Panchayat could realise tax from boatmen who had procured their licence from the Varanasi Nagar Nigam.
Municipal commissioner Nand Kishore made it very clear that the boats operating in VNN's area of jurisdiction were bound to seek licence from the same agency. But, there was no provision of realising any ferry tax in VNN, he claimed. However, the ZP mukhya adhikari said as the matter was contradictory, it would be taken to the court of the divisional commissioner.
Source: Times of India, October 13, 2009
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