[jkrishnakj]

Ditto while entering the temple town of ‘Melkote’ as well. With family inside, I didn’t want to argue. Paid the 30 bucks.

If these are legal, the respective state tourism ministry must make efforts to educate visitors in some ways. If there are doubts, clearly, something is not ‘clean’ in such cases.

[amods]

While on a trip in Dec'19 from Trivandrum, our Innova cab was stopped for the same. When the driver took a sec in stopping, they banged on the bonnet which eventually started a fight between them.

Those guys are absolute goons and if you're a non-local, there's no point to argue or complain to police, which may in fact end up with you coughing up more money to police as well. So better suck it up and move on.

That being said, people who are locals, why don't they raise a voice against it?

[DustyWanderer]

Same incident happened to me as well near Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
They are collecting this entry fee from Bikers as well in the name of Green tax.
I argued and immediately 3 to 4 people came and surrounded, police patrol vehicle was standing a few hundred meters away but they did not bother to help, even the other local vehicles passing by. so had to pay money and leave as I did not want to fight further alone.

It is just another way of creating revenue for the district or state , same like 50kph speed limit in Kerala high ways. Those roads does not have any fly overs but still collect plenty of toll amounts and have speed limit of 50kmph with hundreds of camera points.

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by amods

That being said, people who are locals, why don't they raise a voice against it?

I am just shooting in the dark randomly here, but maybe it has the blessings of local politicos?

[swoosh]

This is a 100% scam, have seen happening in many tourist places. I am not sure about other parts of the country but in Tamil Nadu, the money goes to the local politicians like councilors and panchayat office heads. This is not an order from the govt as far as I know. I have seen this pink receipt recently in Hoggenkal and Yercaud. This is a lucrative business for doing nothing. Maybe, for the same reason, officials don't bother with this.

[Captain Slow]

Originally Posted by DustyWanderer

Same incident happened to me as well near Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
They are collecting this entry fee from Bikers as well in the name of Green tax.
I argued and immediately 3 to 4 people came and surrounded, police patrol vehicle was standing a few hundred meters away but they did not bother to help, even the other local vehicles passing by. so had to pay money and leave as I did not want to fight further alone.

During our last group ride, a couple of these thugs tried to stop us - But when they saw that we were a gang of over 35 bikes and 2 cars they backed off.

Some of us had helmet camera's I guess that scared them!

[Apex1815]

Every one of us who drive across the tourist places would have encountered such Ticket issuing persons (sometimes few Km before the tourist attraction).

Frankly speaking by seeing the kind of ticket (anyone can get such stuff printed from a local press) and the attitude of these people, I strongly feel that most of them are scammers.

Recently, I had been to a Deer Park near Tumkur, Bangalore. Three/Four persons standing around 5 km before the Park in a forest stopped our vehicle and issued Entry fee ticket of 50 Rs. This seemed to be the entry fee for driving across this forest area.

Remember this was not a ticket for the Park, The ticket park we purchased separately at the Ticket counter after reaching the Park.

You can never question these ticket issuing persons, as they would be already prepared to thrash you. Therefore, best way is to pay them and avoid any argument.

[negativeH]

Have been paying some 50 bucks for entry into HP, for as long as I can remember. Never saw the point in arguing or messing with local goons, over this - although I have seen some people arguing there (but those could also be people who're just claiming exemption cause they know someone, or are pseudo 'Govt associated' freeloaders).
Even in my recent Mussoorie visit, we were charged some 50-60 as this supposed 'green tax' for entry of outside vehicles.

Just googled about it, and apparently this is something in the legal dispute pool - so maybe we can have a resolution in the next decade.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ar...ussoorie-92641

[DustyWanderer]

Originally Posted by Apex1815

Every one of us who drive across the tourist places would have encountered such Ticket issuing persons (sometimes few Km before the tourist attraction)..

If there was some way to report these incidents to police then maybe after receiving too much complaints they might take action seeing the escalation.
Or maybe even tag higher officials in twitter with this ticket pic.
I know I should I have also done the same when such type of incident happened to me but next time for sure, I will report.
It is like a beggar is forcing you to give 100rs note or will not leave us and demands its his right to beg for money and us to give.

[airbus]

Originally Posted by DustyWanderer

Or maybe even tag higher officials in twitter with this ticket pic.
I know I should I have also done the same when such type of incident happened to me but next time for sure, I will report.

I did following two things:

1. Wrote an email to Mr. Nitin Gadkari. Thanks to a colleague of mine for providing email ids of the Minister and his PS. Usually his PS responds and forward the complaint to concerned agencies/state government.

2. Submitted a public grievance with the PMO, which is now assigned to R. Rampradeepan (Special Officer), Chief Ministers Special Cell, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Submitted complaint with the PMO here -> Write to the Prime Minister, which is better (personal experience) than PG Portal and usually those are assigned properly. Grievance registration number starts with PMOPG.

I think, if there are good number of complaints, things might change. Let's do our bit.

[JoeTheWanderer]

Originally Posted by DustyWanderer

Same incident happened to me as well near Mahabalipuram, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
They are collecting this entry fee from Bikers as well in the name of Green tax.

I was on a ride to Tamil Nadu in August this year (Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Yercaud and a few other places) but I wasn't stopped for green tax or entry fee anywhere.

I was riding a Telangana registered bike. I guess I was lucky.

[Sran]

It is rampant in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and it becomes so after every 5 years in T.N. My collegemate from T.N, who is now a councillor there says the local party office is run by this money. The local booth/panchayat level leaders are paid a fixed sum of money by the party every month (like salary) along with food rations and all this is financed by methods like this. Have faced this situation everywhere in T.N from Kanyakumari to Salem, Tiruppur, Madurai and Rameswaram.

In 2001, our family went to Kerala as a tourist and in Kovalam beach while relaxing some people approached my father and handed him 5 Rs receipts per person for being on beach. My father who has travelled extensively was very angry with this shenanigan but paid them. Same thing happened in Alappuzha, taxi was given 50 Rs receipt before entering which was paid by us. The driver, a local didn't protest and said it was a "goonda tax" that has to be paid. Some 10 years back I was in Kerala with my college mates from surat and vapi for a friends marriage and on way to Waynad, same thuggery of fake tax receipts. Those people there are so rowdy if they see an out of state vehicle especially from Rajasthan and Gujarat. 50 Rs per person was asked from us while visiting Eravikulam national park (Munnar) at that time, we negotiated it down to 10 Rs/per person.

It was also seen in Maharahtra, they stood everywhere in places like Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, khandala-lonavala to unknown places like Loni and Kopergaon. Once we were forced to pay while Visiting Osmanabad. Its funny because they should have paid us to visit Oamanabad, who visits that place?

Even while entering Shimla and Kullu people are forced to pay these fake tax receipts. In some hilly areas the local hill council can levy legal taxes but it is not clear and could fall under illegal activities. Certain places of AMTM ( Assam, Maghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram) under schedule 6 of Indian constitution can levy taxes.

I remember it was also the case in Bihar 20 years ago especially on river bridges in Northern parts. In Samastipur- Darbhanga old highway there were 3-4 such places. If anyone was passing from maoist area like Arwal they had to pay 5 Rs per vehicle whether private or commercial. Maoist called them levy and it was also all over in Bokaro- Jamshedpur road or near Khunti main crossing.

[mug:mush]

I remember paying an entry fee while entering Goa as well (just before Covid), while I drove my private KA registered car. The entry fee was around Rs. 250. I felt this was daylight robbery but had to pay up since Police were also present. I don't know any other states which demand an entry fee.

[APV]

In Palani too, I remember paying such guys. Like some members mentioned above, it goes to local body - Palani Municipality in this case to provide parking. It's happening for quite some time as far as i can remember - at least in Palani.

Also while entering ooty too - they collect at Baraliyar/Kunjappanai/Mudumalai - Bandipur entrance - I guess thats some green tax.

[bhugs]

I too believe that these are scams only. Green tax collected by Hill councils have proper offices and receipts have clear description on why the same is being collected and where it will be utilized, rest all are fake.