VASCO: The Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) J Ashok Kumar has directed the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) to crack down on the revenue defaulters and submit a compliance report within a month.
According to the information, the directions were issued during the maiden visit of Kumar to the MMC after taking over as DMA in December. During his visit on Monday, Kumar held a closed-door meeting with chief officer Deepali Naik, chairperson Deepak Naik in presence of few councillors.
During the meeting, Kumar was briefed about the present financial condition of the council, the revenue defaulters and increasing rent and house tax dues, which have crossed Rs 20 crore.
Kumar was also briefed about the delay in releasing grants to MMC due to which the council has been facing hardship.
“I have been trying to visit all the municipal councils for quite some time, however due to election process my visit got delayed. Now I have come to visit MMC to take firsthand information about the problems faced by the council and to review various projects which are being implemented. With regards to MMC, the important issue of rent over dues was discussed at length and I am hopeful that serious actions will be taken by the council to recover its dues and we are willing to provide all support to the council in this regard,” he said.
When asked as to what kind of action MMC would take to recover its dues from rent/house tax and other defaulters, he said, “There are various legal provisions available to recover the dues. If a party occupying municipal property fails to pay rent, the MMC has power to issue eviction notice and then can even evict the defaulters. I hope that the council will take strict action as its financial condition is not that sound and needs lot of funds to meet its commitment and thus it is important to make use of this opportunity to recover pending arrears.”
He said that about amendment in municipal act to allow subletting of Municipal premises, he would study the matter and then take appropriate decision.
He added that with the information provided by MMC CO, MMC has over Rs 28 crore outstanding dues including Rs 10 crore dues pending by the oil companies. Thus the council has been directed to make serious efforts to recover the same and if required to go ahead with disconnection of water/electricity supply or even sealing of premises.
He claimed that he intends to have uniform rent rates as well property tax (house tax) in all the councils in Goa and soon a decision to revise the house tax rates, which is quite less as compared to PWD plinth rates will be taken.
