MARGAO: After facing all round flak over its decision to increase the house tax by nearly 1000 per cent, Cuncolim Municipal Council seemed to have finally seen reason as the civic body has now virtually decided to go for a nominal hike effective from the new financial year.
That’s not all. The civic body has decided to go for a nominal increase in the house tax only after the process of brining under the house tax all illegal houses and the thousands of premises leased out on rent to the tenants.
The municipality took the stand at the public hearing of objections lodged by the citizens against the proposed hike in the house tax. Both CMC Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas and Chief Officer Pandarinath Naik told the media after the hearing that the civic body would raise the tax only by Rs 50. “Houses paying an annual tax of Rs 100 may be asked to pay an additional amount of Rs 50 per year”, Landry said, even as the Chief Officer, who had come under the scanner of the citizens, said the civic body would go for a nominal hike.
Activist Ronny Dias said the citizens have told the Chairperson and the Chief Officer in clear terms that the civic body should first tax the illegal structures and the rented premises before burdening the honest tax payers. “We are not opposed to the payment of house tax, but the civic body should go for recoveries and mop up additional revenue from the rented premises”, he added.
Adv John Monteiro said the people will not remain silent over the issue.
