Assam: Haflong student bodies stop collection of toll tax, allege "roads yet to be built"

HAFLONG: A state of unrest prevailed in Assam's Dima Hasao district after two student organizations of the district -- namely Dimasa Student Union (DSU) and All Dimasa Student Union jointly stopped the collections of toll tax at Manderdisa toll gate of Dimasa Hasao which was unveiled on December 15. Members of the student bodies reached the toll gate yesterday and demanded that no money be collected as large patches of road along the Highway are yet to be constructed.

Condemning the Government for collecting toll tax at the newly inaugurated plaza, the student organizations questioned why the authorities were charging toll tax without completion of the road (NH-54 and NH-27).

"30-40 kilometres of the road are yet to be built and we are astonished to learn that money is already being collected at the toll gate. Therefore, student bodies from Haflong have decided to take matters into their own hands and stop the collection. Moreover, we believe that crores of rupees are being misappropriated by companies that have been assigned to build the roads," said a student leader at the protest site.

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Raising a hue-and-cry outside the plaza yesterday, the student bodies have demanded the Government to complete the construction of the roads before charging any taxes.

They have also demanded the Government to initiate a CBI enquiry on NHAI, PIU Haflong division because the road is incomplete.

They have also demanded a CBI enquiry of Jatinga-Harangajo road. The students bodies have claimed that there has been a massive misappropriation of funds during the construction of these roads.

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