Kamat was addressing a news conference called to explain the purpose behind not paying property tax of one month rent as per Municipality Act and Goa, Daman and Diu Municipalities (Consolidated Property Tax) Rule 1971.
“Bank of India (BOI) has applied for trade tax at the new premises after paying arrears of their old premises. The bank will submit certain required documents, which are asked by CCMC, to get the trade license,” said Kamat.
“CCMC had served a notice dated July 17 asking to pay property tax within 30 days, which expires on August 17. We are paying income tax (TDS), service tax and also repay loan from the rent which we receive from the banks which are housed in our Meghkunj building. Therefore, we asked the chief officer to give some time to work out and pay property tax, but CCMC keeps on sending notices and asked to stop inauguration of BOI branch, which was inaugurated on July 28,” he informed.
When media persons brought to his notice that lack of parking space is one of the reasons cited by the chief officer in his notice, Kamat said there are many other banks which do not have parking spaces.
“The parking space of a building which houses a bank is converted into shops. Why CCMC is not initiating action against them and why only targeting my building when I have sufficient parking space,” asked Kamat.
Meanwhile in a press note, CCMC Councillor Pushkal Sawant has criticized Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral for supporting illegal activities by inaugurating the bank branch when the council asked the BOI not to go ahead with the inauguration.
“The MLA knows that the council is facing financial difficulties, lot of arrears are pending in the form of house tax, trade tax, property tax, etc, and the MLA himself directed the chief officer during the last council meeting to initiate recovery of all the dues and to take action against the staff if they failed to perform their duties,” stated Sawant.
