‘Entry Tax Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti’ blocks Una-Chandigarh NH amid Himachal tax hike
Blockade lasted almost 3 hours, traffic diverted to other routes
The ‘Entry Tax Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti’ on Wednesday blocked the traffic on the Una-Chandigarh National Highway.
The protest was held at the Mehatpur barrier near the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab border against the hike in entry tax by Himachal’s government.
Related News: Truckers protest at Nalagarh inter-state barriers over entry tax
The blockade lasted almost three hours, starting 9 am, after which they called off the protest, allowing movement of vehicles.
The Ajouli barrier on the Nangal to Santoshgarh road was also blocked due to the protests and was later opened at 12 noon.
The Sangharsh Samiti consists of residents from Mehatpur in Una district and Nangal in Punjab, who are most affected by the hike since they frequently move across the states for work or to meet their relatives. Members of the committee said that Wednesday’s blockade was just symbolic and that they will protest till the hike rolls back.
Related News: Himachal blinks on entry tax, levies flat Rs 100 fee on vehicles
Meanwhile, after the blockage of the NH at Mehatpur, Una SDM Abhishek Mittal notified diversion of traffic from Nangal side to Ajouli, Santoshgarh and Una, while the traffic from Himachal Pradesh was diverted via Bhatoli to Nangal.
Una shares eleven inter-state barriers with Punjab and vehicular movement remained normal in all the remaining nine barriers including the major ones at Marwari, Polian and Gagret.
