Provincial President National Conference and MLA Nagrota Devender Singh Rana on Friday alleged deep rooted politico-goon-contractor nexus with strong BJP patronage in road tax collection at Ban Toll Plaza, saying the locals were worst hit of the arbitrary decision taken by National Highway Authority of India. “A strong BJP lobby is at work in fleecing Nagrota commuters, as also the Vaishno Devi bound pilgrims”, Rana said at a press conference here this morning, asking the ruling BJP to explain the interest it has in allowing such a harsh anti-people measure.Flanked by Naib Sarpanches, Sarpanches and opinion leaders of Nagrota Assembly Constituency, he sought immediate rationalization of the toll structure with thrust on keeping the residents of Nagrota, residing within the radius of 15 kilometers, out of its ambit and threatened that if the concerned fail to do so, the people will not only come on streets but the real faces behind the nexus would also be publicly exposed. He questioned the rationale in waiving toll tax for the people residing within 15 kilometer radius of Lakhanpur Toll Plaza but fleecing Nagrota residents who also reside within 15 kilometers and are required to commute for domestic chorus, studies of their wards and carrying out business avocations. “The contractors in close nexus with goons are humiliating and threatening the commuters to extort the uncalled for tax”, he added.
The MLA Nagrota referred to the decision taken at a meeting convened by Minister for R&B Altaf Bukhari on April 11 about rationalization of the toll tax and wondered how the BJP lobby managed to get the recommendations of the State Government sabotaged and shelved. “We are still hopeful about the commitment made by the R&B Minister notwithstanding BJP becoming a stumbling block”, he said and hinted at quid pro quo in allowing this type of tax regime.The Provincial President reiterated that Ban Toll Plaza is detrimental to the interests of people and overall economy; as such measures are bound to retard the promotion of tourism. “On the one hand, the Centre is mulling to have an express highway from Delhi to Katra, the base camp for Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and on the other taxes were being levied on the incoming pilgrims”, he said adding the people of the state in general and the Nagrota Assembly Constituency in particular have been put to additional burden and cumbersome process notwithstanding the highway being still under construction. He described levying of tax as unethical and a conscious ploy to favour some vested interests, who were harassing the commuters by misusing their political connections. The fact is known to the people and still the ruling coalition prefers to look to the other side for obvious reasons, he maintained.
Citing the examples of Gurgaon and other similar cities, he said the people there have option either to use the taxable highways or alternate roads to commute without paying any levy. “Let the government provide interior roads in Nagrota so that commuters use these for inter-connectivity on daily basis or free them from the road tax”, the MLA said.
Rana also expressed concern over the rigid approach of the Minister incharge Housing and Urban Development for constructing abettor at Khanpur in Nagrota despite decision taken at the District Development Board meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister about its relocation in view of the proposed site being in close vicinity of densely populated area besides a temple and mosque. “It is intriguing that the coalition government does not have any synergy and coordination and they are working at cross purposes”, he said, wondering how a decision arrived at the District Development Board meeting can be reversed to satiate whim of a particular minister.Referring to the proposed central scheme of smart cities, the Provincial President sought three such projects for Jammu and Kashmir—Srinagar, Devasthan Katra and Jammu, saying that Nagrota should form pivot of Jammu as smart city, given its potential and topographical location. “Being in close vicinity of the winter capital, Nagrota possesses huge potential to grow as Greater Jammu in view of vast land mass, scenic slopes, ideal sites for residential and commercial complexes besides lot more in respect of sports and tourism promotion”, he added. (KNS)