Jammu and Kashmir Socio Economic Coordination Committee (JKSECC) has expressed its dismay and disappointment over collection of toll tax by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on uncompleted stretch of national highway at Sangam point.
According to a statement, the JKSECC questioned the legalauthenticity of the decision taken by a non localorganisation that has beeninvolved in execution of a centrally sponsored road project which cannot claimownership on the road being constructed by them under any law of the land.”This is simply illegal and unconstitutional. The land for any centrally sponsored project could be requisitioned byand allotted to President of India who in turn may give it to the concernedagency for execution of a particular project. Such an agency after completionof the project is under obligation to return back the said project to the stategovernment for the benefit of its citizens. We wonder how all these provisionsof law could be ignored while taking a decision about collection of usercharges”,” it said, adding, the decision seems to have been taken withouttaking the state government into confidence.
In fact the state government has to make NHAI accountablefor an unprecedented delay in the completion of the road project that wasassigned to them 25 years back. Whereasthe delay has resulted in great public inconvenience, it has also caused hugemonetary losses to the traders and transporters. The frequent closure of thehighway because of heavy landsliding due to the construction works hasunleashed socio economic problems of unimaginable magnitude in the valley, itsaid.
“In light of these facts this illegal and uncalled chargesfor using the road should be scrapped forthwith,” it said. Meanwhile, BeoparMandalMaharajGunj, theoldest trade organisationofJammu and Kashmir, has strongly condemned theimposition of toll tax on movement of the people on highway by NationalHighways Authority of India. The BeoparMandal termed the act of minting moneyfrom civilians as a total dictatorship.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the BeoparMandalspokesman said the recent ban of civilian traffic on Kashmir highway hasalready weakened the economy of the Valley, and now this move of collectingtoll tax will further deteriorate the economic stability. The spokesmandemanded the early intervention of state authorities in revoking this orderreflecting the dictatorship.