…But CCP?stands its ground citing need for revenue
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A hefty hike in house tax by the Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP) has irked residents who are demanding that the corpartion revert to the original fee of Rs 100. The corporation, on the other hand, is in no mood to oblige, citing the need for additional revenue to undertake various developmental works.
In March 2013, the former ruling panel headed by Vaidehi Naik had resolved to raise the house tax from Rs 100 to Rs 500 annually. During the chaos over the election process between March-end and beginning of April, the resolution was passed using special powers.
A Ribandar resident alleged the hike is to loot the city residents. “The CCP passes a resolution when two panels were fighting over elections and the matter was in the High Court. The increase is to loot us,” the local, in his mid-40s said on anonymity.
Another local said that even after the hike, which started from April onwards, the CCP has neglected maintenance work. “If the money is collected for the benefit of locals, why is the garbage strewn all over? The drains aren’t, pot holes on the roads are creating nuisance in rains…” he said.
The CCP is, however, firm to continue the hiked tax collection. Mayor Surendra Furtado said payment of Rs 500 per year is not a huge amount for a family where either both parents are working or at least one of them is a government employee.
“I support the previous panel’s decision…It is not a big amount. Almost all are government servants who earn Sixth Pay Commission wages monthly. We need revenue to upgrade infrastructure and other developments,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CCP is in the process of formulating by-laws to recover dues from almost 50 per cent defaulters.
The mayor also pointed out that CCP is the only corporation in the state which has door-to-door garbage collection system. He said crores of rupees go in salaries and that creation of infrastructure and development of the existing ones needs a huge amount.
