Team Herald
VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council has resolved to send a letter to the Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister conveying its decision to collect octroi from Vasco-based petroleum companies, which is presently being collected by the government.
The decision was taken at a special council meeting on Wednesday.
While discussing the octroi issue, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik expressed concern at the loss of revenue for the MMC as it had no role in colleting octroi from Vasco-based petroleum companies. Stating that the MMC was in a financial crisis and its dependency on government grants had increased, he suggested that the council forward a proposal to the State government for permission to collect octroi directly.
“Major petroleum companies have been operating from Vasco, but still we have been facing financial problems as the State government has been directly collecting the octroi from these companies. If we directly collect the octroi, then our dependency on the government for grants will reduced. Moreover, the government grants have not been coming to us on time.”
The MMC is losing a major chunk of revenue, which is Rs 10 to 12 crore annually as octroi,” said Naik.
He added, “Also, the government earlier used to give us Rs 3.80 crore as grants, but last year we received only Rs 1.60 crore. Therefore, we have unanimously resolved to collect octroi directly and we will inform the government about our decision.”
The MMC has also decided to deploy additional staff to ensure quick disposal of pending files pertaining to the transfer of ownership of houses/business/stalls/handcarts.
Regarding Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar’s proposal to install eco-toilets in all 25 wards, the councillors were asked to identify sites where such toilets, which need no maintenance and use no water, could be installed for public use.
The MMC also decided to scrap the tenders issued for developmental works and to finalize new works in all 25 wards. The Council has also constituted a town vending committee under the chairmanship of Naik and including councillors Lavina D’Souza, Rochana Borkar, Reema Sonurlekar, and Bhawana Bhosle. It was also decided to clear a proposal made by the Forest Department to construct and maintain road dividers at Swatantra Path and F L Gomes road, besides open spaces near Vidya Mandir School, Adarsh Nagar.
