Assam's Jagun Daily Market faces allegations of unauthorised fee collection from traders

Allegations of serious irregularities have surfaced over the management of Jagun Daily Market in Margherita subdivision of Assam’s Tinsukia district, with questions being raised over the role of the Tinsukia Zilla Parishad.

The allegations include the private management of the market without inviting a public tender, collection of fees from traders without clearly established authority and the alleged occupation of a substantial portion of National Highway 315 by shops and vendors, raising concerns over traffic congestion and road safety.

According to the allegations, an individual has been managing the market in the name of Tirtha Basumatary, while his associates have allegedly been collecting fees from traders visiting the market. However, the authority under which these individuals are collecting the money remains unclear.

Questions have also been raised over how the Tinsukia Zilla Parishad allegedly handed over the management of the market to a private individual without inviting a public tender.

Questions over compliance with government guidelines

An executive directive issued by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department reportedly lays down specific guidelines regarding the collection of market fees.

As per the directive, villagers bringing household necessities or small quantities of locally produced household goods for sale cannot be charged any market fee or tax.

The directive also reportedly states that markets operating on open fields or roadside areas, where no infrastructure facilities have been provided by the Gaon Panchayat, Anchalik Panchayat or Zilla Parishad, cannot be settled through a formal market allotment process.

The present situation at Jagun Daily Market has raised questions over whether these provisions are being followed and whether ordinary villagers selling household products are also being charged fees.

No displayed fee chart, allegations of arbitrary collection

The directive also reportedly places responsibility on the Zilla Parishad to install information boards at prominent locations in markets, displaying the prescribed rates for different commodities in the local language.

However, traders have alleged that no such fee chart or information board is visible at Jagun Daily Market. This has raised concerns over whether traders are being charged according to officially approved rates or whether fees are being collected arbitrarily.

Around 60 per cent of shops allegedly operating on NH-315

Another major concern is the alleged occupation of National Highway 315 by shops and vendors.

According to the allegations, nearly 60 per cent of the market's shops and stalls have been set up on or along the national highway, disrupting the normal movement of vehicles and causing frequent traffic congestion.

Commuters, customers and traders are reportedly facing difficulties due to the encroachment, while the movement of pedestrians and vehicles in the same space has raised concerns over the risk of accidents.

The allegations have also raised questions about how commercial activities are being allowed along such an important highway and whether any authority has permitted the collection of fees from vendors operating there.

Questions over market settlement without public tender

The process through which the market was allegedly handed over for private management has also come under scrutiny.

Questions remain over whether a public tender was issued, whether the Zilla Parishad adopted a formal resolution and whether the necessary approvals were obtained before assigning the market's management to a private individual.

There are also demands for clarification on whether the money collected in the name of market fees is being deposited into the government revenue account.

Demand for administrative intervention

Demands are now growing for the publication of the market allotment documents, Zilla Parishad resolutions, tender-related records, official approvals, prescribed fee rates and details of the revenue collected.

There are also calls for an investigation into the authority of those collecting fees, the alleged occupation of NH-315 and the possible impact on the interests and safety of local traders and commuters.

The Tinsukia Zilla Parishad, Margherita subdivision administration, Panchayat and Rural Development Department and National Highways authorities are being urged to intervene and examine the allegations.

The key questions remain whether the market was legally allotted, who authorised the collection of fees and how shops were allegedly allowed to operate on the national highway.

An official response from the concerned authorities would be necessary to establish the facts surrounding the allegations.