Octroi abolished, exporters still charged Rs 40

Although the Punjab government has abolished octroi on all goods (including industrial and engineering products) except electricity, liquor and petroleum products with effect from September 1 this year, exporters allege that the Jalandhar Cantonment Octroi post has found another way to harass the exporters and local industrial community by charging a transit pass fee of Rs 40 per vehicle, carrying goods and plying on the National Highway, G T Road-I.

They said the vehicles carrying export goods from Jalandhar were forcibly stopped at the Jalandhar Cantonment's octroi post and the tempo and truck drivers were charged Rs 40 per vehicle, and no slip or receipt was issued officially.

Recalling one of the incident, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters Senior Vice-President A K Kohli said a vehicle loaded with exportable goods on the way to Phagwara on NH-1, was stopped forcibly at the Octroi Post Naka and was charged Rs 40 and no receipt was issued. Later, with efforts of the public, a Receipt No 6160 and Pass No 91 was issued and the vehicle was allowed to go, he added.

He said, "The people posted at Naka are charging the transit fees in the name of the Cantonment Board. But in actual, the National Highway is maintained by the National Highway Authorities and not by the Cantonment Board. So I fail to understand, why such illegal activities are allowed? Exporters are bringing much needed foreign exchange , especially, when neighbouring states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal are offering huge tax benefits. There are no such benefits available to the trade, industry and exporters of Punjab. Such harassment creates mental tension for the exporters and industrialists, especially, when there is good potential of engineering goods from the small scale industries of Punjab, which is successfully competing with China."