Margao: The convenor of the shadow council of Margao has demanded the resignation of the Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr. Babita Prabhudessai for causing a loss in revenue by not following the necessary modalities. Savio Coutinho accused the Chairperson of not collecting sanitary tax from unassessed premises.
Dr. Prabhudessai had not paid her house tax according to Savio but she said she had paid it despite having time till May 31 to pay it. However, as the council wanted a separate cheque for house tax and separate for the sanitary fee, she would have to write the cheques again. Earlier in the morning Savio Coutinho who was the former Chairperson had alleged that Dr Babita had not paid the house tax of her premises bearing House Nos. 9/1331 and 9/1332. He also alleged that the sanitary tax of these two premises was not paid.
He argued Dr. Babita had no right to ask Margao residents to pay taxes when she herself had failed to pay them, Savio demanded her resignation and further threatened to file criminal case against her for causing loss of revenue to the council by not collecting taxes from the unassessed premises within the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council.
He said the Shadow Council of Margao had taken two buildings for a sample survey and several businesses in these two buildings unassessed. In the Ranghavi complex close to the Municipal Council building there are 238 commercial premises as per the license granted to the building. However only 21 premises possessed a trade license and therefore are assessed by the municipality.
The other building Osia Complex has 1983 commercial premises as per the license. However, only 63 premises had trade license. “One can imagine how many premises carrying out business in these two buildings are not assessed by the council and if this is the case in just two buildings what will be state in the whole town?” he questioned.
Savio argued that if the council had to collect taxes properly from everybody who is generating garbage, the sanitary tax could be brought down from Rs. 600 per annum, which he said is too high as even the City Corporation of Panjim is charging only Rs. 500 per annum.
While asserting this was causing a loss of revenue to the council, he said there was scope to file criminal proceedings against the chairperson and said that was the reason why copies of the memorandum were addressed to the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister.
He also lamented the Chairperson has not convened the meeting of the stakeholders and councillors to discuss the sanitary tax despite promising it at the 18th April meeting and said the council is only telling lies and not acting to address the problems of the people.
However, Dr Babita said she had fixed a deadline of May 20 by which date the meeting would be convened and the issue would be addressed.
