Farmers protest against dual transport levies

TRANSPORT OFFICIALS HAVING BEEN FORCING THEM TO PAY ROAD TAX OF ₹ 8,500 FROM EACH TRACTOR AND A ₹ 4,600 FINE FOR OVERLOADING, FARMERS ALLEGED

Hundreds of farmers on Wednesday staged a sit-in demonstration at the entrance of the Bharatpur divisional commissioner’s office to protest against the transport department charging dual levies.

The protester handed a memorandum for chief minister to divisional commissioner Suvir Kumar.

Farmers sitting on their tractor trolleys from across the district gathered at the Numaish ground and then headed to the divisional commissioner’s office in a rally through the main market.

The farmers led by Bhartiya Kisan Union chief Nem Singh were protesting against the transport department’s levy on overloaded tractors trolleys.

The transport officials having been forcing them to pay road tax of ₹ 8,500 from each tractor and a ₹ 4,600 fine for overloading, farmers alleged.

“Officials impose tax on tractors despite former Prime Minister late Chaudhary Charan Singh having waived off the tax on farmers’ tractor trolleys,” Singh said.

“The state government should announce the district as drought-affected area since kharif crops have been damaged due to lack of rain this year and farmers depend on agriculture as their livelihood.”

Agitating farmers have also threatened to take a rally with their tractors to Jaipur for a stage a sit-in demonstration in front of the chief minister’s office if their demands are not fulfilled.

The department will be return any excess tax and fines levied on farmers by inspectors, however, they will be allowed to carry only four tonne of load in the tractor trolley, said district transport officer Nanuram Choyal.

Bharatpur divisional commissioner Suvir Kumar said transport officials have been directed to avoid double charging and only one-time tax be levied from tractors that carry load.