Panaji:
Goa could face shortage of essential commodities with the transporters from the markets of Belgaum in Karnataka and Kolhapur in Maharashtra threatening to stop supplies from tomorrow if the entry tax imposed by the state government on the border was not rolled back.
The associations, including the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), Kolhapur District Lorry Operators Association (KDLOA) and All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) have joined forces to protest against the tax on vehicles entering the state. The levy came into effect from yesterday.
BCCI president Satish Tendolkar told reporters today that Belgaum Vegetable Owners Association has already stopped their supplies to Goa since yesterday, immediately after the entry tax was imposed.
All other traders and transporters will join them tomorrow, if Goa does not roll back the tax, he added.
KDLOA president Subhash Jadhav has also threatened to stop the supplies of groceries and milk to the coastal state, which is entirely dependent on neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka for supply of essential commodities.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar imposed the entry tax ranging between Rs 100-1,000 depending on the utility of the vehicle. The trucks are charged Rs 1,000 per trip.
The state expects to collect Rs 100 crore annually through this new tax.
"While our chamber fully supports the government's drive to garner additional revenue for the state through every possible means, we wish to point out that the move to levy this particular entry tax on vehicles may be counter-productive," Tendolkar said.