Financial distress of municipalities
It is reported that the Ponda Municipal Council has a revenue deficit of Rs 3 crore for the current financial year because the income is Rs 7 crore while the expenditure is Rs 10 crore. To offset this, the taxes on existing and new houses and commercial establishment and also the occupancy fees would be raised.
The City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) is yet to recover pending house and business taxes from 50% of the owners. The CCP plans to soon recover the tax which will be about Rs 2 crore per month but the number of months and defaulters are not mentioned. The above are just two examples and we are unaware of the financial distress in other municipalities and panchayats.
In the past too, there were news about the need to collect pending dues but nothing seems to have worked. Only a minor percentage of honest house and commercial owners are enriching the municipalities while most get away or wait for an announcement of a waiver or no penalty to be charged.
The authorities could recruit contract workers who will be accompanied by a permanent staff from the municipalities and go to every house and commercial places and check for the latest tax receipt. Prior intimation in newspapers could be given to the owners to keep the receipts ready. Defaulters need to be penalised and suitable action should be taken and no leniency to be shown.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
The shortest
British PM
With her resignation after being in power for less than two months, Liz Truss became the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British political history. But during her short stint in office, she triggered a disaster in financial markets, sacked two of her most senior ministers, was forced to make multiple policy U-turns, and ultimately lost the backing of her own MPs. Her tenure had seen a general breakdown in discipline within the Conservative party, with many lawmakers vociferous for her resignation.
Pun intended, during her brief term in office, Liz led a ‘truss-deficit’ government. Whoever succeeds Liz Truss, he/she will have to resolve significant tensions within the ruling Conservative Party over the UK’s economic approach, while facing a yawning budget deficit, which must be filled with tax rises or deep-spending cuts.
These are difficult days for the UK, which has, in a few weeks, lost its reputation for both political and financial stability.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
The chaotic situation in the UK
This has reference to the report ‘Trust first left Number 10. Truss had to follow’ (Herald, October 21, 2022).
It is interesting to note the political developments taking place in the United Kingdom in recent times. The political situation in UK seems quite uncertain. They have had five prime ministers in just six years with the present prime minister, Liz Truss, resigning within just 45 days in office. Surely something or rather everything is wrong in British politics.
A great imperialist power at one time, having a large number of countries under their control, today, seems to be in chaos. However, even in such a chaotic situation, democracy reigns supreme in UK. Look at the manner in which they choose their leader, nobody is being taken to resorts, no attempting to topple the government, etc, and there seems to be healthy discussions/debates within the ruling party in the midst of such political upheaval.
We need to learn something from the manner in which this political crisis is being managed in the UK. Long Live democracy.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Check on weight
of gas cylinders
Responding to complaints of under-filled LPG cooking gas cylinders, the office of the assistant controller, Legal Metrology, North Zone on Thursday reportedly raided gas cylinder retail agencies in Porvorim area. It is learnt that the officials inspected gas godown of an agency and after weighing they seized 33 domestic cylinders which were under-filled beyond maximum permissible limits. During the raid a flexible pipe with attachment and spanner which is used in transferring gas from one cylinder to another was also seized.
The drive was aimed at checking the delivery of LPG cylinders as per the provision of Legal Metrology Act 2009, read with Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 according to which the weight of the gas cylinder should be checked by marketing companies, packers and distributors. It must be said that if the domestic LPG gas cylinder that is supplied is underweight it is ultimately the consumer who will suffer. The transfer of gas from one cylinder to another could be taking place not only at the godown but even during transit.
There needs to be a provision in place whereby the delivery-man carries a weighing instrument which is either digital or analogue. The delivery man should check the weight of the gas cylinder in the presence of the consumer at the point of delivery. The consumer should accept the delivery only if the weight is as per specifications.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The festival of lights and crackers
Diwali is celebrated by all Hindus all over the world and is known as ‘Deepavali’, or the ‘row of oil lamps’.
Symbolically based on an ancient mythology, it represents the victory of truth over lies, of light over darkness, of life over death, and of good over evil.
The actual celebration lasts for five days, marking the beginning of a new year, family reconciliation, especially between brothers and sisters, and the worship of God. I have noticed that many children burst crackers on the roads and get injured during Diwali.
Parents should take care that children play with fireworks only in the presence of a responsible adult.
On the other hand, we waste millions of rupees every year on bursting crackers during Diwali. Why can’t the same money be utilised for the uplift of the poor? There are millions of people all over the world who can’t even have two square meals of food to eat a day. Instead of spending money on bursting crackers, people should donate the same money to a charitable institution where children who have no parents are taken care of.
The light of Diwali should be within us. It should symbolise the personal relationship between God and our families. Firecrackers create a lot of noise pollution and cause a lot of distress to animals and birds. Avoid them if possible, or localise their use in a community to an open field. Do help to clear up the mess in your neighbourhood once the festivities are over.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Shortest-serving British premier
Embattled UK Prime Minister Liz Truss finally bowed out after 44 tumultuous days in office and earned the dubious distinction of the shortest-serving premier ever in British history.
Truss admitted she could no longer deliver on the promises that won her the Conservative leadership and said she had lost the faith of her party. Britain will have its third Prime Minister in three months chosen next week. Former finance minister Rishi Sunak is the bookmakers’ favourite ahead of former defence minister Penny Mordaunt and former prime minister Boris Johnson.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
