SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 7: Crusher and mines industrialists of Jharkhand are on the boil over the decision of the state government to impose a toll tax of Rs 1,200 on stone-loaded vehicles as royalty.
The Jharkhand Crushers and Mines Association (JCMA) has strongly protested against the toll tax on stone-loaded vehicles and has urged the state government to immediately roll back the decision in the interest of the crusher industry and lakhs of labourers working in it.
At a meeting of the state body held at Govindpur of Dhanbad, JCMA President Chandreswar Prasad Singh and Secretary Pankaj Kumar Singh said that a delegation would meet Chief Minister Hemant Soren soon over the issue. It would demand writing-off the toll tax on stone vehicles as it is higher than the taxes of other states.
“Thousands of crusher industries would shut down from this toll tax. If the government does not consider the issue, the crusher industry association would move to court for relief,” said Chandreswar Prasad Singh and Pankaj Kumar Singh jointly.
The JCMA president and the secretary said that stone-loaded vehicles have to pay Rs 1200 for mines to crusher site and Rs 1200 for crusher site to market (total Rs. 2400) as toll tax. This is applied on all types of vehicles including Hywa, dumper, tractor and 407.
The Association officials claimed that the royalty rate on the crusher industry is higher in Jharkhand than in other states.
In Jharkhand, a crusher industrialist has to pay Rs 708 per 100 CFT (cubic feet) while in neighboring state West Bengal, the royalty charge is only Rs 368 per 100 CFT.
After the implementation of the users’ charge, the industrialist would have to pay Rs 1520.40 per 100 CFT.
“Moreover, in Jharkhand, they have to pay additional Rs 212.40 per 100 CFT to the District Mineral Fund Trust (DMFT),” added the JCMA president and secretary.
