Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 5: PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Jammu region, Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra (HRAK), Press Club Katra and other trade organisations have expressed strong resentment over the imposition of high taxes by Municipal Committee Katra on the public as usage charges.
A joint delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association Katra, PHDCCI, Press Club Katra and other prominent organizations of Katra met president Municipal Committee Katra, Bimal Indu here today and expressed serious concern over the imposition of high taxes on the name of usage charges by Municipal Committee Katra.
Rakesh Wazir president HRAK and Chairman, PHDCCI while speaking on the occasion said it is surprising to observe that alone Katra and no other Municipal town of Jammu Kashmir has chosen for imposition of taxes on the name of usage charges that too, forcibly irrespective of the fact that someone may or may not be using their services. The KMC is already collecting taxes from all sections of Katra including Houses, Shops, Hotels , Sarais/ Dharamshalas, Banquet Halls etc. and that too on monthly basis on the exorbitant rates.
“It is really surprising that a person or organization who will serve food free of cost to Yatris and common people will have to pay Rs 2000 as fee to Muncipality and all these taxes will apply only in Katra which will have their negative direct impact on pilgrims which reminds us of `Jazia’ once imposed on Hindus Mughal King and asked for its with drawal at the earliest.
Sham Kesar Chairman (HRAK) said that while imposing those taxes on people even the basic principle of taking objections from the general public was not followed. He sought that decision be reviewed.
Shiv Kumar Sharma former president (HRAK), Virender Kesar District president PHDCCI, Member of Press Club Sohan Lal Kohli, Rohit Padha, Sanjay Kumar too showed great anguish over this move and asked for roll back.
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