Farmers resent move to levy transport tax on tractors

Amarjit Thind

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 21

The Centre’s proposed move to impose transport tax on tractors has drawn flak from farmer unions.

The tax will burden farmers and others using the tractor-trailer for transporting goods or material.

A gazette notification was framed by the Centre on September 27, proposing changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989, to include tractors in the transport vehicle category. The last date for submitting suggestions/objections to the proposal is October 26.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan said the tax would be collected on the basis of the tractor’s horsepower (HP). On an average, it will be about Rs 30,000 per annum on high-HP tractors, they pointed out.

BKU chief Balbir Singh Rajewal said the Centre’s arbitrary decision had come at a time when various states were clamouring for debt waiver. It will affect small and marginal farmers who supplement their income by using tractor-trailers for hauling goods, besides increasing farm input costs, he added.

Small and marginal farmers who do not own tractors will have to hire these vehicles at higher rates in view of the tax, the BKU leaders said.

They have appealed to like-minded unions and affected persons to submit their suggestions/objections to the Joint Secretary (Transport), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, before the deadline.

The unions will start an agitation if the move is not scrapped, they warned.