A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister, Nagaland on 13th September, 2021 in the Conference Hall of the Chief Secretary, Nagaland to deliberate for developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with the complaints pertaining to Illegal Taxation/Extortion in Dimapur District, and also for discussing the matter of collection of items tax/fees by ULBs and certain other issues as contained in the representation dated 09.09.2021 submitted by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI) to the Chief Secretary, Nagaland. The meeting was attended by Advisor, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Chief Secretary, Nagaland, DGP, Addl. Chief Secretary & Finance Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Principal Secretary, Home, Commissioner, Nagaland along with other senior officers. After due deliberations the following were decided in the meeting: 1. The collection of any kind of tax/fees on items/goods that comes under GST regime shall be immediately stopped by all the Municipals and Town Councils across the State. Any other Government Department/agency, which may be collecting tax on any items falling under GST regime shall also give directions for immediately stopping such collections. 2. Commissioner of Police, Dimapur in consultation with PHQ will immediately put in place a security grid and take other measures, including stationing sufficient security personnel at various locations to check illegal taxation/extortion. 3. The Administrators of all the Urban Local Bodies will take steps for including the representatives of the business communities of their cities/towns in their advisory committees for taking decisions in respect to various business related activities. The necessary Orders/Directions, wherever required, for the decisions taken in the meeting would be issued shortly by the Government. In the meeting it was also informed that the application of the SARFEASI (Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002 is under examination of the Select Committee of Nagaland Legislative Assembly and that the meeting of the Select Committee is scheduled on 14th September 2021. In view of the above, the government has appealed to CNCCI to reconsider its call for going for State-wide closure of all the shops and business establishments on 16th September 2021, and to give support and cooperation to the Government departments for tackling the menace of illegal taxation/extortion and also for assisting in further improving the ease of doing business in the State. (DIPR)