TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Having successfully collected over Rs 1 crore in taxes and rent from shopkeepers and house owners, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) now hopes to collect Rs 3 crore by the end of the financial year.
Speaking to Herald, MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari said the MMC accounts department has initiated steps to collect the outstanding dues, having issued notices to 22,000 house and shop owners.
“There is an outstanding of Rs 64.6 lakh towards house tax, garbage tax (Rs 13 lakh), trade licence fees (Rs 19.13 lakh), name plates (Rs 60 lakh), shop rent (Rs 46.75 lakh), sopo tax (Rs 16.75 lakh), construction license fee (Rs 30.61 lakh) and cable operators and owners of mobile towers, etc, (Rs 13.57 lakh),” Falari said.
“The MMC accounts department has initiated steps to collect the outstanding dues. They have issued notices to 22,000 house and shop owners and have deployed 10 supervisors to collect the dues,” informed Falari.
He said notices have been sent to businessmen to renew trade licenses. In all, 2373 traders have already renewed their licenses and MMC will impose penalty on traders who have not renewed their licenses.
“MMC receives grants from the State government based on collection revenue. If the revenue of the MMC is increased, then there is possibility of getting more grants from the government. The MMC hopes to collect Rs 3 crore by the end of the financial year. Accordingly, the accounts department has intensified its efforts to recover the dues,” said Falari.
Falari further said some shopkeepers in Mapusa market have rented out the mezzanine area of their shops and such shopkeepers have also been sent notices.
“An amount of Rs 60.66 lakh was outstanding towards house tax as on March 31, 2013, out of which, MMC have so far succeeded in recovering Rs 7.42 lakh.”
“Recovery of house tax and recovery of shop rent are two different things. It the shop owner does not pay rent, then MMC has a right to seal the shop, but the same rule cannot be applied to houses. The supervisors have been instructed to meet the house owners personally and collect the house tax,” added Falari.
