PANJIM: At the first meeting on Friday after three months of forming new council of the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP), a one-Time-Settlement Scheme (OTS) was announced for paying house tax of residents of the capital city.
Panjim Mayor Rohit Monserrate, after the meeting, said that this scheme was made relieve people, who are facing various difficulties due to the COVID pandemic. For similar reasons, CCP has extended the July deadline for renewal of trade licenses to the month of September.
He said that with the OTS scheme CCP is looking to get back only the principal amount from the defaulters. This amount is needed for CCP to function properly, pay their staff, complete sanitation works to keep the city clean etc, he reasoned.
“I appeal to the people of Panjim. We are willing to forgo every single error, which they have made but the people should get their principal amount cleared,” said Rohit.
The overall outstanding dues are around Rs 37 crore out of which Rs 17 crore is the principal amount, he added.
On another issue, CCP has given Panjim market shop owners time till July 8 to sign their leave and license agreement, failing which the errant shop owners will receive notices.
The Mayor also announced that CCP has decided to reduce sanitary charges after consulting with the business community, who said they have accepted the new rates. This was done by amending the prevailing sanitation rules that also saw an increase by 5 percent to the annual sanitation service charge for government buildings. CCP also took a decision to undertake a survey of all government buildings.
It was revealed that Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has approved proposals to make two city roads as smart roads, rejuvenate the St Inez creek, construct two overhead water reservoirs to provide continuous water supply for the city and build a footbridge at Patto.
While the meeting confirmed the regularisation of 85 contract workers and a decision was taken to regularise another 280 contract workers, former Panjim Mayor Surendra Futrado grilled CCP on why 21 contract workers had been dismissed. He demanded that such a decision be withdrawn and these workers be taken back into service. There were arguments between Furtado and CCP Commssioner Agnelo Fernandes over this. Fernandes explained that the service contract of the 21 workers had expired on June 30 and added that they can approach the courts if they have any grievance.
Furtado also questioned the appointment of a senior lawyer, pointing to the high fees that have to be paid per hearing in the High Court when CCP already has lawyers representing CCP. He asked if the money being collected for house tax and trade licenses from people suffering due to the pandemic is going towards paying such fees at a time when there is a purported paucity of funds for development works.
Another opposition councillor Joel Andrade hit out at out at alleged interference in routine maintenance works by CCP and said the commissioner should draw out a plan to ensure such works go on smoothly.
