Hetauda, October 23:

Maoists are interfering in the collection of tax for supply of stones, sand and gravel from the district. The tax is collected by the Makwanpur District Development Committee.

Maoists started collecting local tax from the second week of Shrawan and attempts to convince them to stop collecting the tax and let the DDC do so, have failed. All-party meetings were held on September 19 and September 26 in this connection. The Maoists’ district member Pravin attended the first meeting but there was no Maoist representation in the meeting held on September 26.

The DDC said it is losing Rs 18,000 daily due to the Maoists’ tax collection.

Political leaders said they had mounted pressure on the Maoists to stop collecting the tax but in vain.

Chief of Makawanpur District Peoples’ Government, Bhim Pakhrin, said top leaders would find out a solution to the problem through talks.

Local Development Officer Amal Kiran Dhakal said they would hold discussions regarding the loss incurred by the DDC after completion of the talks.

Maoist sources claim that they have taken control of over 80 per cent of the district area and they are collecting tax there. Out of the fund collected as tax, 30 per cent is invested in development, 10 per cent in administrative sector and 60 per cent in security, said Pakhrin, adding that they would continue collecting tax until the problem is resolved through talks.

Makwanpur is the autonomous region of the Tamangs and the recent meeting of the Tamang

Autonomous Republic Region has decided to collect tax in the villages, a Maoist source said.