Outrage against N. Highway mess: Protest near Hejamadi Tollgate
Padubidri: A symbolic protest was held at Hejamadi Tollgate on National Highway 66 on Thursday, demanding the exemption in toll for local vehicles, and the immediate completion of the National Highway 66 works.
“Complete the national highway work or stop the toll collection. Toll collection should be permanently stopped for local vehicles. Construct the highway as per the original map of 2010. While setting up four tollgates within 90 kilometers is against the National Highway Law, Surathkal tollgate must be removed immediately,” the committee urged.
“National highway curves are unscientific, and no warning sign boards are installed in the accident-prone zones, road dividers are inadequate,” the committee added.
The protesters then submitted a memorandum to Kapu Tahsildar Guru Siddayya Hiremath.
Horata Samithi president Deviprasad Shetty, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, district panchayat member Shashikanta Padubidri, taluk panchayat member Dinesh Palimaru, various gram panchayat presidents Vishalakshi Putran, Damayanti Amin,JDS district President Yogish Shetty, Vasudeva Rao, Rakshana Vedike District President Ansar Ahmed, Kapu constituency president Sudhakar Shetty, Kapu block Congress president Navinchandra J. Shetty, BJP Kapu constituency President Prakash Shetty, tempo drivers and Malakar Sangha president Harish Shetty, Uday Shetty Anna, Abbas Haji, Ismail Phalimaru, Ashraf, Ismail Hejamadi and others were present.
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CM Siddaramaiah writes to CMs of 8 states on unfair devolution of taxes by Centre
Bengaluru, Sep 11: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he has written to the Chief Ministers of eight states regarding the "unfair" devolution of taxes by the Union government, and has invited them to a conclave in Bengaluru to collectively deliberate on the issues of "fiscal federalism".
He said he has written to the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
"States with higher GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) per capita, like Karnataka and others, are being penalised for their economic performance, receiving disproportionately lower tax allocations. This unjust approach undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism and threatens the financial autonomy of progressive states," he said in a post on 'X' with "#OurTaxOurRight" hashtag.
"I have invited them to a conclave in Bengaluru to collectively deliberate on the issues of fiscal federalism at a juncture when the Finance Commission needs to make a directional shift & create incentives for growth and better tax mobilisation," he said.
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Siddararamaiah has also posted the letter written to CMs of other states on 'X'.
"As you are aware the 16th Finance Commission has begun its deliberations. The previous Finance Commissions have laid excessive emphasis on equity at the cost of efficiency and performance. As a result, states with higher GSDP per capita and higher contribution to the gross tax revenues of the union are progressively receiving lower shares of the central fiscal transfers," he said.
Stating that during the visit of the 16th Finance Commission to the State of Karnataka, during 29-30, August 2024, he underscored the need to carefully examine the impact of high emphasis given to equity on resource devolution to well performing states, he said, "I have emphasised that the reduction in central financial transfers to well performing states is placing severe limitations on their ability to invest in physical and human infrastructure."
The taxpayers of states, which are net donors to the divisible pool, also expect a fair share of their taxes to come back to them, he said, adding that the Finance Commission therefore needs to carefully balance equity with efficiency and performance.
Pointing out that states with a strong contribution to the country's GDP and Gross Tax Revenue, help build the nation in more ways than one, Siddaramaiah said, therefore, there is an urgent need to balance equity with efficiency and performance for a stronger Union, both politically and economically.
"It is, therefore, important that states which are receiving smaller shares in horizontal devolution, compared to their contributions to the Gross Tax Revenues of the Union, need to articulate a coordinated set of proposals before the Commission," he said.
"It is my pleasure to invite you to a conclave in Bengaluru to discuss these issues further. I will send a separate invitation indicating the dates once we firm up the schedule," he added.
I have written to the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab regarding the unfair devolution of taxes by the Union government.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 11, 2024
States with higher GSDP per capita, like Karnataka and others, are being penalized… pic.twitter.com/SLqpNwVPDA
