Jose Maria de J. G. Godinho
House Tax has been increased from Rs 2,177 to Rs. 2,395 in the financial year 2013-14 onwards for example in respect of flats of a MMV Co-op Housing Society, Ltd Caranzalem by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). People have to obtain license on payment from CCP prior to construction of their houses. Once occupancy certificate is issued House Tax is charged immediately by CCP.
In the past there were no sanitation charges except House Tax. People used to drop their garbage at a given point from where CCP trucks used to collect garbage for final disposal. These CCP’s services were well met within House Tax. It is one of the responsibilities of CCP to collect the garbage from the given point when House Tax is paid just like in the Metropolitan city of Mumbai.
Although House Tax is paid, CCP arbitrarily had introduced a system to collect garbage from door to door at Re 1 per day. People had not demanded to collect garbage from door to door. Monthly Rs 30 was being collected from door to door at the beginning. Later on Rs 300 per year was included as sanitation charges in the House Tax bill. The same amount was increased to Rs 365 in the financial year 2013-14. Now CCP has finally decided to double the same from Rs 365 to Rs 750 in the next financial year 2017-18 with reference to Herald dated 21/04/2016. What is the interest/reason to increase the same since House Tax was already increased from Rs 2,177 to Rs 2,395 in the financial year 2013-14? Moreover, is CCP correct to collect garbage from door to door instead of at given point? Also, there are people working outside Goa and abroad. Their houses are closed and hence garbage is not being generated by them. Is CCP correct to include sanitation charges in their House Tax bills? Please clarify.
Also, at some places the residents are throwing garbage by the road side but CCP is not collecting the same.
In view of the above, CCP should define House Tax and explain where the money collected from the residents towards house tax is being utilized and not take arbitrary decision in a hap hazard manner with vested interest. Hence, all the Councilors must keep in mind that they have been elected by the people, for the people and judiciously act in public interest and see that CCP discontinue with sanitation charges. It is one of the responsibilities of CCP to collect garbage from a given point since house tax is being paid by the people.
