Letter to CEO, Ahmednagar Cantonment Board

5 August 2013

Mr Vilas Harischandra Pawar,

The Chief Executive Officer

Office of the Cantonment Board

AMX Chowk, Bhingar

Dist Ahmednagar/Maharashtra

PIN 414 002

Phone: 0241-2326009

Dear Mr Pawar,

Sub: Vehicle Entry Tax @ Ahmednagar Cantonment area – Onkara Constructions

Greetings.

During my interaction with truck drivers at Devaraj Urs Truck Terminal in Bangalore in July this year, they shared some of their bitter experience with the alleged illegal gratification of Onkara Constructions, your concessionaire on the Ahmednagar Cantonment Board stretch who is authorized to collect Vehicle Entry Tax on your behalf.

Each truck passing through this section, I understand, is charged Rs.200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) in either direction. Onkara Constructions staff, manning this stretch, issue receipt  in the form of multiple Rs.15/-.

That is, drivers pay Rs.200 and get 10 numbers of Rs.15/- receipt (see attachment of receipt images). This works out to Rs.150/-(Rupees One Hundred and Fifty only).

Extra Rs.50/- is pocketed by Onkara Constructions staff obviously with no receipt of this amount.

Drivers’ objection to this kind of ‘highhandedness’ by Onkara Constructions staff is met with a deafening silence.

Sir, one is tend to believe is this ‘highhandedness’ is practiced without the Board being unaware. Or perhaps, Board officials are aware, but turn a blind eye.

Either way, this calls for a thorough investigation at your end.

A Right To Information Act application is being filed seeking more information about the Board practices on Vehicle Entry Tax collection procedure and the antecedents of Onkara Constructions selection process etc separately.

                                               

 Look forward to hearing from you,

Cheers

Ramesh Kumar

Copy to:

Hon’ble Minister for Defence, Government of India,New Delhi 110001

Chairman, NHAI, New Delhi

AIMTC/AIWTA/ACOGOA