Fishermen based in Manikchak block of Malda district have alleged that they are being compelled to pay “water tax” to a local cooperative society for fishing in the Ganga.

Hareram Choudhury, one of the 3,000-odd fishermen who catch fish along a 10km stretch of the Ganga that flows through the block, said that the members of the Rajkumartola Dhibar Samabay Samiti gather daily on the riverbank soon after the former return from fishing.

There, as fishermen sell their catch to wholesale merchants, the samiti members collect 20 per cent of the sale proceeds from each fisherman in the name of “water tax.”

“We have informed the district administration and Sabina Yeasmin, the minister of state for irrigation who is also an MLA from our district, about this. They have said that no tax can be imposed on any fisherman for catching fish from the Ganga. The block administration has also made public announcements on the issue. Still, we are being forced to pay water tax as they (the cooperative society members) intimidate us,” said Hareram.

The fishermen, who came together to protest on this issue last week, said theyhad even filed a complaint with the police.

“The police detained two members of the society but also released them soon. Every day, the members collect at least Rs 25,000 from us. We are simply victims of extortion,” said another protesting fisherman.

Representatives of the cooperative society, however, claimed they had the right to collect such a tax for fishing in the Ganga.

Anil Mondal, a member of the samiti, said that in 2020, the society had taken a stretch of the Ganga and some other local water bodies on lease from Malda Zilla Parishad.

“We pay an annual levy of Rs 11.55 lakh to the zilla parishad and have the right to collect the tax from fishermen. Whatever we are doing is legal. If we are barred from collecting the tax, we will challenge the order in a court of law,” said Mondal.

According to him, the cooperative society had 405 members.

Officials of district administration, when contacted, said they are aware of the issue and are checking out the legality of the society to collect tax.

Minister Yeasmin said: “Water tax cannot be collected for fishing from the Ganga. We are in touch with the administration. If the allegations are found correct, legal action will be taken.”