Rangat Business Community fumes as Pradhan Imposes Unjustified Tax

Senthl Kumar
Port Blair, Feb 11: In just over four months of being elected in the local body elections, the Village Pradhan of Rangat in Middle Andaman is facing severe criticism for alleged abuse of powers. According to reports, the Pradhan of Rangat Gram Panchayat, Satish Kumar Singh, in violation of rules and regulations, has implemented a self-devised set of rules to impose various taxes on public. The move reportedly has facilitated embezzlement of public funds as lakhs of rupees is collected from people unlawfully.
Retail shop owners, transporter and villagers are worst affected as the Pradhan unilaterally hiked the taxes vide a circular issued as per the Panchayat act, 1994 published under Andaman and Nicobar Administration Panchayat Raj Rules and Regulations 37 (1) (b & h).
As per information, the sanitation tax was increased to Rs 300 per month for small shopkeepers and vegetable vendors, Rs 50-100 per month for wholesale traders and shop owners which was earlier uniformly fixed at Rs 10 per year.
Similarly, taxes have also been imposed on transport vehicles making brief halts at Rangat. Four wheelers are charged Rs 50/- per halt, six wheelers are charged Rs 100 and eight wheelers are charged Rs 200/-. Similarly, local private buses and Express Busses are charged Rs. 50 and mini local buses Rs. 30 per day. Small vehicle like Winger, Omni, Jeep and Auto drivers are charged Rs 10 per day.
“The Pradhan of Rangat has turned autocratic since coming to power last year. He has implemented his own set of rules and regulations causing immense hardships to people. Such random and unjustified hike of taxes has created rage in Rangat area. If anyone questions the credibility of the rules, the Panchayat people show the circular which is totally against the law. Many allege that the Pradhan and his associates are minting money in manoeuvring the Panchayat rules and regulations. Intervention of the top of the administration is immediately required to prevent innocent villagers from being fooled by the Pradhan and his accomplices,” say several agitated residents of Rangat.