IMAGINING TAXATION in Akalistan

* The story has nothing to do with Bankers who have been mandated to pay tax imagined on their lesser Loan burdens* 

In the year 2050, the world had changed dramatically. Cities once bustling with life were now shrouded in thick smog, their skies permanently gray. Among them, Althara, one of the most polluted cities, was notorious for its Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently crossing 500—hazardous levels that turned simple breathing into a luxury.

In Althara, oxygen tanks had become an everyday necessity. People queued daily to refill their portable oxygen canisters, much like they used to for fuel in the days when cars were still popular. Clean drinking water, too, had become a scarce commodity, sold in bottles at exorbitant prices. The struggle for these basic necessities defined life in the city, and businesses dealing in oxygen and water thrived like never before.

Meanwhile, in the pristine village of Vasundhara, life was still idyllic. The air was crisp, the water pure, and residents lived without the burden of paying for what nature had once freely provided to all.  A stark divide emerged between those who lived in polluted cities and those lucky enough to be posted in places like Vasundhara, where nature still reigned supreme.

It was in this context that the Central Taxation Bureau of Althara proposed a radical new policy. A legal case had been brought to the Honourable Court of the Land by concerned citizens and the government alike. The question: Should individuals enjoying free oxygen and water in rural postings be taxed for the benefits they derived from nature?

The argument was simple. In Althara, workers spent a significant portion of their salaries on purchasing oxygen and water. Those stationed in places like Vasundhara, however, enjoyed these for free—an invisible but tangible benefit that, in the eyes of the law, constituted a form of income.

After weeks of deliberation, the Honourable Court ruled in favor of the taxation policy. "The principle of equity demands that all citizens contribute fairly to the welfare of the state," the Chief Justice declared. "Access to free oxygen and water in less polluted areas is a benefit derived from one’s posting. As such, it must be treated as taxable income to ensure fairness among all citizens."

The ruling sparked outrage and confusion across the country. In Vasundhara, villagers and employees stationed there were appalled. "Why should we pay for breathing clean air and drinking pure water? These are not luxuries—they're our birthright!" protested Ramesh, a teacher recently transferred to Vasundhara.

Back in Althara, citizens saw the decision as long overdue. "If we have to spend half our salaries just to survive, why should others get a free ride?" argued Priya, an accountant who spent a fortune each month on oxygen for her asthmatic mother.

The government quickly set up a system to calculate the "imagined income" derived from free oxygen and water. Based on the average cost of oxygen tanks and bottled water in polluted cities, a fixed "Nature Tax" was imposed on those living in cleaner environments. For some, this tax amounted to thousands of rupees annually.

The policy led to unexpected consequences. Many employees began declining rural postings, fearing the additional tax burden. Businesses in cleaner regions lobbied to have the tax removed, arguing that it discouraged migration and stifled economic growth. Meanwhile, environmental activists called the policy a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for urgent action to combat pollution and restore the planet's health.

Months later, the government introduced a revised scheme. The "Nature Tax" funds were redirected towards environmental restoration projects in polluted cities like Althara. Oxygen parks were constructed, water filtration systems installed, and public campaigns launched to reduce emissions. Slowly but surely, the gap between polluted cities and clean villages began to narrow.

For many, the taxation of air and water remained a bitter memory of humanity's failure to protect its natural resources. But it also served as a powerful reminder of the cost of neglecting the environment—and the lengths society would go to in order to restore balance.

In the end, the "Taxation of Air and Water" became more than just a policy. It was a symbol of a world waking up to its mistakes, determined to find a way forward, one breath and one drop at a time.

- AKP