Shadow Correspondent
Jammu Oct 14:
Infuriated over the establishment of Sarore Toll Plaza of late which has stirred volcanic outrage among the people of Jammu Pradesh, scores of Panthers Party activists led by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP, Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia State President JKNPP and Mr. Yashpal Kundal State president Young Panthers staged a massive protest demonstration at Exhibition Ground in Jammu today. While raising slogans against the BJP and the NHAI, the agitated protesters accused the former for imposing taxes upon the people which has subjected them to further loot and plunder in view of the ongoing inflation and economic crisis. Lambasting the BJP for its persistent acts of duplicity and deceit, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh recalled that it was Saffron party which in opposition vociferously opposed the installation of the Toll Plaza and vandalized the structure at the proposed site near Sarore in the pretext of ‘Jazia’ levied upon the people of Jammu. “Is this a new form of ‘Kesari Jazia’ imposed on us by you after forming the government in the Centre? Is this the reason the people have overwhelmingly mandated you for trampling their aspirations? Didn’t you feel ashamed while supporting, facilitating and inaugurating the Toll Plaza with an intention to put financial burden on the gullible people?”, Harsh took a jibe at the BJP. He said the government was testing the waters before going whole hog with installation of two more Toll Plazas in Jammu’s vicinity at Rajbagh and on the Ring road. These entry-exit points would not only break the back of the people with hefty taxes but deeply hurt the religious faith of the Hindus all over the country who visit Mata Vaishni Devi Ji shrine to pay their holy obeisance, Harsh regretted. Seeking abolition of Sarore Toll Plaza, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh also launched a scathing attack on NHAI. He asked the regulatory body to come out with the updated rules of charging toll tax in the public domain. “As per the user fee rules 2008 of NHAI, the spacing between two adjacent Toll Plazas should be minimum 60 km. What is the rationale behind the commissioning of Sarore Toll Plaza which is less than 40 kms behind Ban Toll Plaza?”, questioned Harsh. Rebuking the ugly episode at Sarore Toll Plaza couple of days ago, Mr. Singh rued the incident was not condemnable but raised eyebrows over the behaviour of the site contractor who dared to abuse and manhandle the bus driver in full public view. “A probe should be initiated into the contractor-NHAI nexus in the light of a 2012 report prepared by the World Bank’s Institutional Integrity Unit which alleged that fraudulent and corrupt practices were being followed by Indian contractors working on national highway projects funded by it, and sought a thorough investigation into the matter. The report also alleged that contractors paid bribes and gifts, including gold coins to influence the actions of officials and consultants of the National Highways Authority of India in procuring the contracts”, asserted Harsh.
Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia and Mr. Yashpaul Kundal accused the government of doling discrimination to Jammu region in view of the disbanding of toll plazas in Kashmir with only one such toll functional in the valley. They pointed out that for Jammu-Udhampur stretch the toll tax levied was Rs.200/- for both sides while in Kashmir for 65 Km stretch, it was levied at Rs.135/- for both sides. “When the people are paying hefty road tax imposed by Motor Vehicle department, isn’t the toll tax in the prevalent scenario unjustified and defied all logic?”, the leaders questioned. Expressing concern over the long ques of vehicles at the Sarore Toll Plaza, the NPP leaders said that it was not only resulting in large traffic jams for hours but also adding to the woes of the people amid back breaking inflation. While demanding immediate closure of Sarore site, they also reiterated their demand to revise the rates of toll tax at Ban Toll Plaza which has been a cause of public concern for a long time now.
