MARGAO: In a major development, at the council body meeting of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), a resolution was passed to adop revised plinth area rates as per the memorandum that was issued to the civic body by the PWD Principal Chief Engineer on July 26, which means there will be a substantial increase in the construction license fees for new residential and commercial buildings as well as single dwelling buildings.
As per discussions at the meeting, this resolution would see these construction licence fees including cess fees and house tax increasing by 38%-45%. It may be recalled that in the past the public had opposed this proposal when it was part of the agenda of an earlier council meeting, which was later deferred owing to the outcry from the public.
Chief Officer Gaurish Shankwalkar said the MMC is obligated to adopt the same as per the memorandum sent by PWD. “Other municipalities have already adopted the same.,” he added. Post the meeting, former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho hit out at the MMC for passing the resolution to revise the plinth area rates lamenting that a huge burden will now fall upon citizens of Margao. “Also it is enforceable from July 23, meaning that even those who took licenses before, will have to pay the difference,” Savio added. He also recalled that MMC had recently implemented a 50% hike in sanitation fees on legally assessed premises and alleged that the Chairperson was lying that all other municipalities had implemented a 50% hike.
Another major discussion was about the pending arrears amounting to Rs 42 lakh that MMC has to pay the contractor handling collection of sanitary waste. It was resolved to clear this amount , and a possible agreement for monthly payments was discussed.
