VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chooses to drag its feet in penalising and recovering rent and trade license fees from its tenants and other shopkeepers, it has however now decided to target citizens by increasing the fees for birth and death certificates.
Speaking to Herald, some citizens complained that MMC earlier charged Rs 15 for either a birth or death certificate. “MMC is unable to recover from its tenants and other shopkeepers and it is now targeting the common man to fill its coffers by increasing the fees to Rs 100 per certificate,” charged a citizen.
With the salary that I draw, I can barely meet household expenses and with increase in fees for birth and death certificates from Rs 15 to Rs 100, it will be difficult for me to obtain these birth certificates every now and then, as these birth certificates are needed for various purposes,” said Shrikant Naik, a salesman and a father of three children.
Another citizen, Roque Menezes, who works in a private company, added, “Instead of targeting the common man to meet its expenses, the council should run after the oil companies and municipal tenants and recover the arrears. They do not want to go after the mighty and the powerful and so trouble the comman man.”
Shailesh Naik pointed that since these certificates are valid for only six months, people would have to pay Rs 100 per certificate every time they wish to obtain them.
“While every time the government harps on decreasing petrol prices for the benefit of common men, the government has increased the rates of stamp papers and water and electricity bills,” said Naik.
“We thought that the new government would provide some relief for the common man, but the present government is fooling the people and has taken the citizens for granted,” alleged Naik.
When contacted, MMC Chief Officer Megnath Porob justified the hike in the fees of death and birth certificates by claiming that prices of everything has shot up.
“With increase in fees for birth and death certificates, MMC can collect revenue which can be utilised to meet 50 per cent of the salaries of the contract labourers,” he said.
When asked what efforts MMC has made to penalise shopkeepers in the municipal market who are operating without valid trade licences and recover arrears from tenants and oil companies, Porob pointed to staff shortage.
“There is no permanent accounts officer and taxation officer. It is team work and I alone cannot look into every matter. We have formed teams to recover the outstanding arrears from the market, while the oil companies have approached the court,” informed Porob. Porob however failed to inform on steps taken to penalise the shopkeepers who are carrying out business without trade licenses and the tenants for not paying the arrears.
When contacted, Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida, who is also a MMC councillor, said it was wrong on the part of the council and the chief officer to collect such a high fee from the common man for birth and death certificates.
“I will write to the MMC about my objection and will urge the council to withdraw the increase in fee for birth and death certificates, which is burdensome to the citizens,” he said.
