VASCO: After a gap of nearly two decades, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday agreed to increase the house tax, construction licences, renewal of construction licences and repair licences to nearly double the prevailing rates. The council has also increased the rate of income certificate from Rs 20 to Rs 100.
The council witnessed a heated debate after Councillor Nany D’Souza complained to MMC Chief Officer Megnath Porob that the council had failed to provide labourers to clean her ward since the last four months.
D’Souza was supported by Councillors Sunita Landez, Pascoal D’Souza, Lavina D’Souza and former chairperson Sarika Palkar, who alleged that the council had also failed to provide labourers to clean their wards, due to which they had to face the wrath of residents from their wards.
Replying to their allegations, MMC Chairperson Bhavana Bhosle stated that she had provided the councillors with labourers and when the agitated councillors demanded to know when the labourers had been sent to their wards, Bhosle failed to reply.
Sensing the situation was going out of hand, Porob then assured to provide two labourers each to all councillors for a period of two months to clean their wards.
While deliberating on the revised taxes, Councillor Nany D’Souza sought to know whether the council had sought permission from the Directorate of Municipal administration to increase the taxes and other fees.
Responding to D’Souza, Porob pointed out that the last revision in taxes was done in 1996, adding that the revision was long overdue.
“Municipalities which are lower in grade in comparison to the MMC are collecting the amount which is far higher than what is being presently proposed by the council,” said Porob. “Whatever revised amount that will be collected will not go in my pocket, but will help the council to tide over with the financial crisis.”
Supporting the move, former chairperson and Councillor Shekar Khadapkar stated that the MMC, which is an A-grade municipal council, collects revenue which is less than a C-grade municipal council in the State.Informing councillors that as per the rule the council should revise the taxation rates every three years, Khadapkar said that and if one were to go by that rule, the amount would have been much higher then what was being proposed.
Councillor Tarak Kerkar then added that councillors would earlier get a stipend of Rs 300 per month and over a period of time, it was increased to Rs 8,000.
“If the councillors are objecting to the revise taxation rates, then their stipend should be also decreased to Rs 300,” said Kerkar.
After much deliberation, the councillors finally agreed to revise the taxation rates.
Khadapkar told Herald that the MMC has been struggling to pay the labourers and its staff due to an acute shortage in funds.
“It is surprising to note that the councillors are objecting to everything and no one is interested in building the revenue of the council. The increased taxation will only help the council to build its revenue and pay its staff and labourers, who in turn will be more efficient in their duties for the welfare of the municipality,” said Khadapkar.
