Dandeli: A timber merchant of Dandeli has alleged that the Forest Department is charging 12 per cent forest development fund (FDF) apart from GST when the merchants buy timber through e-tender. Premanand Gawas says it is against the “One Nation, One Tax” policy. He told reporters on Monday that questioning the FDF, he approached the High Court’s Circuit Bench in Dharwad, which ordered the forest officials of Haliyal and Dandeli not to levy FDF. Even after the court order, the officials continue to charge FDF, which is contempt of court. There is 18 per cent GST on timber and 2.5 per cent other tax. Apart from that, the forest department is charging 12 per cent FDF, taking the total tax to more than 30 per cent. No other state is imposing such huge percentage of taxes on timber merchants, he said