District development committees (DDCs) and village development committees (VDCs) and local groups representing different organizations are collecting money from goat traders which they say is illegal.[break]
“We have raised price by at least Rs 1,000 per goat as we are compelled to pay money to DDC or VDC contractors as well as different groups as tax while delivering goats to the market,” said a trader.
The trader also complained that different DDCs have awarded contract worth hundreds of thousands of rupees to collect money from livestock traders during Dashain.
“We have filed complaint against such anomaly at Kaski District Administration Office (DAO), Kaski. But officials there told us they can do nothing to control such practice,” the trader said, adding, “Instead, they suggested to us raise goat price.”
Traders said contractors appointed by DDCs are collecting Rs 50 per goat.
Gokarna Bhandari, who has been involved in animal trading for the last two decades, said he had to pay about Rs 1,000 per goat as ´tax´ to different groups and organizations along Surkhet-Nepalgunj route alone.
Kaski´s Local Development Officer Iswor Raj Adhikari defended tax collection, stating that Local Self Governance Act allows local bodies to collect tax on goats, mountain goats and water buffaloes.
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