Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Nov 27: The recent initiative that has been taken by the Ferrargunj Panchayat of collecting Garbage Tax from all vehicles crossing Jirkatang Convoy has been highly criticised by the General Public.
Since last one month the Ferrargunj Panchayat is collecting Rs 10/- from four wheelers and Rs 30/- from Busses and Trucks, crossing Jirkatang Check Post, in name of Garbage Tax. Sadly garbage management still remain in pathetic shape at Jirkatang area, raising question over need for collection of any such Tax.
“Already the condition of the ATR road is pathetic, after making a single trip, whatever we earn half of the amount is spent for repair of our vehicles, and without any proper facilities at the Jirkatang area, they are collecting garbage tax, that too Rs 10/-, which is totally unjustified,” said a Tourist Vehicle Owner.
“On the way to Diglipur if every panchayat now start collecting such taxes from tomorrow giving the same excuse of Garbage Management then, one driver will have to pay Minimum Rs. 200 extra for a round trip upto Diglipur. What if Port Blair Municipal Council starts taking tax from every villagers of every other Panchayat while entering inside PBMC? If such practice continue how a common man will move freely in his own area” said another Tourist Van Driver.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha recently, Col (Retd) K V Cherian said that the collection of the Garbage Tax at Ferrargunj Panchayat is totally baseless.
“I don’t know how the Deputy Commissioner has allowed the Panchayat to collect the aforesaid tax and in what basis, if all the panchayats like Sippighat, Beodnabad, Tushnabad etc will start collecting the garbage tax from all the vehicle passing through their area, it will become very difficult for the General Public,” Col (Retd) K V Cherian said.
Further talking to Andaman Sheekha, the President, Bay of Bengal Tour Operator Association, Mr P Papachhan also said that the collection of garbage tax from the Jirkatang Jarawa Outpost area is totally unjustified. “Even the toilet block at Jirkatang doesn’t have a Septic Tank, then in what basis they are charging Garbage Tax. The entire Jirkatang Check post area is always full of Garbage, who cleans it and when? If there is no Garbage management then why to impose Garbage Tax,” questioned Mr Papachhan.
Mr P Papachhan further added that the Tourist Vehicle Owners are already troubled due to the pathetic condition of the ATR Road and this new system is only adding to the frustration.
“I request the Administration to remove the said tax immediately and not to trouble the Tourist Vehicle Owners more,” Mr Papachhan added.
