PUNE: The contractors are collecting huge amounts of money as vehicle entrance tax from farmer transporters at the APMC. When the empty vehicles are exiting the APMC, each driver is being asked to pay an amount in the range of ₹10 to ₹50. They are not issued any receipt. Hence, drivers want to know when this ‘loot’ will come to an end.
The drivers of vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, onion, potato and bananas entering the Market Yard are not charged any vehicle entrance fee. However, drivers of vehicles exiting from gate number five are told to pay charges. The APMC has turned a blind eye to this. Hence, even after the appointment of board of directors, the ‘loot’ of farmers has not ended.
Four-wheelers arriving at the jaggery and grocery goods market are forced to pay vehicle entrance fee and parking fee. Every day, about 1,000 to 1,500 vehicles arrive at APMC. Information is available that if ₹10 is charged per vehicle, then, ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 is collected per day. Hence, a question arises whether this money goes.
Dr Rajaram Dhondkar, Secretary of APMC said, “In the grocery goods market, ₹10 is charged as vehicle entrance fee for the first five hours and later, ₹10 is charged per hour. Despite this, there are frequent incidents wherein drivers of some vehicles are asked to pay sums ranging from ₹30 to ₹200 as entrance fee. Some days ago, a director had also questioned the concerned persons for over charging. However, the situation has not changed. Instructions will be issued to keep the main gate open for allowing vehicles to go back.”
