Team Herald
MARGAO: The ‘A’ class Margao Municipal Council continues to struggle in tackling the much controversial issue of nearly 600 un-assessed premises resulting in huge loss of revenue to the civic body.
This Municipality provides basic amenities to the two markets; New Market and Gandhi Market, consisting of hundreds of shops here, but the council hardly earns any rent from these premises.
Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar stated the commercial establishments operating here earn in lakhs but refuse to paying taxes to the Municipality for the last 15 to 20 years.
“There are hundreds of premises, besides two markets owned by the council who are not paying any taxes, but the civic body continues to provide them with all the facilities including collection of garbage”, Savio Coutinho, former chairperson said
Coutinho also alleged that hundreds of houses including slums which are vote banks of the political leaders are deliberately ignored from imposing the house taxes and garbage fees.
However, Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar has cited several excuses for failing to assess the un-assessed premises.
“Yes, I even came across nearly 600 premises, mostly commercial establishments operating in the jurisdiction of the Municipality without a trade licence”, he stated.
He said that there are reasons for the council not being able to issue them trade licences despite many of those owners willing to pay the taxes.
“One of the main reasons is dispute over the lease agreements between the owners and the ones whom they have sub let it to. There are several applications pending for the trade licence”, said Chairperson.
