SHILLONG, FEB 10: The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising the East Jaintia Hills Truck Owners & Transporters Association (EJHTOTA) and the Jaintia Hills Truck Owners’ Association (JHTOA), on Tuesday appealed to the state government to introduce a Special One-Time Settlement Scheme (SOTS) for the regularisation of vehicles with long-pending tax arrears.

In a memorandum submitted to Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar, the JAC urged the government to waive or reduce accumulated late fees and penalties, enabling vehicle owners to clear the principal tax amount and bring their vehicles into compliance.

“We earnestly request your esteemed office to consider and initiate a Special One-Time Settlement Scheme (SOTS) for the regularisation of vehicles with long-pending invalid documents,” the memorandum stated.

The committee said such a scheme would be mutually beneficial for both the government and the transport community. It noted that the initiative would help generate immediate revenue through the clearance of old tax dues and bring a large number of currently non-operational or non-compliant vehicles back into the legal tax framework.

“For truck owners, the scheme would empower members who are presently unable to afford heavy cumulative penalties to become compliant, resume legal operations, and regularly maintain their vehicle documents in the future,” the JAC said.

The Joint Action Committee expressed confidence that the state government would consider the request with compassion and a pragmatic approach, keeping in mind the economic welfare of transport operators and the overall health of the state’s transport sector.