The State Government had enacted an Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets Act in 1956, under which Regulated Market Committees (RMCs) have been established for regulation of purchase and sale of agricultural produce.
But flouting the law, tax is being collected from farmers and carrying vehicles at different places in the name RMC officer at different gates, alleged the Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangha here at Press meet on Monday.
The Mahasangha has been demanding closure of the RMC gates in the roads and stoppage of the illegal collection of taxes at the gates.
The State Government on April 1, 2017 had directed closure of all the RMC gates, which the sellers and consumers had welcomed. A case was filed against the decision in the High Court, in which the Byabasayee Mahasangha as a party favoured closure of the gates.
The High Court rejected the plea upholding the decision of the Government.
The Mahasangha has also urged the sellers, consumers and businessmen not pay taxes at any place or to people other than those of the RMCs, according to Mahasangha general secretary Sudhakar Panda.