Team Herald
PONDA: The Congress, MGP and Goa Forward Party urged the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) Chairperson Ritesh Naik to review the council’s decision and give relief to Pondaitees by lowering the taxes which have been hiked recently.
Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar said the party is not against the hike in taxes but the PMC should refrain from imposing exorbitant taxes on the masses.
Congress worker and Councillor William Aguiar said he had opposed the proposed hike in tax for both new and commercial constructions.
He said though the decision was passed by majority, it is a burden on the common man and added that and should be done gradually every year.
MGP leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar and Goa Forward Party leader Durgadas Kamat also expressed unhappiness stating that the sudden hike is burdening the common man and that PMC should review its decision by lowering it.
Meanwhile, Chairperson Ritesh Naik said the issue was unnecessarily politicised. “We are forced to take this decision after the yearly PMC expenditure shot up to Rs 10 crore while the revenue was just Rs 7 crore.”
“We had not hiked the taxes for the last three years and had no option. Compared to other municipalities, the taxes here are much lower and even the auditors had suggested that the taxes be hiked,” said Naik.
