A GIS survey report of 2018 on one ward of Margao Municipal Council became the centre of debate during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. Answers were sought from Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane on why the crucial report was shelved when it was meant to streamline tax collections of the civic body. The topic of discussion was why the municipality is not going ahead with the GIS survey report when the reality on the ground is as clear as daylight. The mystery, however, is that the report is missing from the civic files.
It was in June 2017 that the Margao Municipal Council, under the leadership of chairperson Babita Angle announced that the civic body would use geospatial technology to map all residential and commercial premises in the city and compute house tax. Tenders were invited to undertake a geographic information system (GIS) survey to identify and bring all structures under the tax net. In 2018, Mormugao Municipal Council followed suit and decided to undertake the GIS survey and mapping on a trial basis to reassess house tax. There has been a proposal in the Mapusa Municipal Council too.
In 2018, the report on the GIS survey conducted by a private agency on Ward 14 of Margao revealed that house tax collection should have been Rs 3.16 cr instead of Rs 40.30 lakh collected per annum. The report showed a net shortfall in collection to Rs 2.75 crore in just one ward. The survey exposed the loss that the civic body is suffering in tax collection, bringing laxity to the fore. The commercial capital comprises 25 wards; if one hazards a guess, revenue losses can run into crores. Incidentally, the GIS survey happened when Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai wrestled control over the civic body.
The Urban Development Minister seems to have cleared the air stating that work on GIS mapping has already started in North Goa, and the tender process is on for South. The question is whether GIS mapping can help when it is clear that civic authorities are not showing intent to recover taxes. The brazen illegalities are in the open, and successive civic bodies have dragged their feet regarding tax collections. The question is whether civic bodies will go about levying taxes as per the GIS report.
Margao is a classic case where the city fathers have not only looked the other way towards those not paying taxes but have ignored calls for GIS mapping. Further, there have been no moves to recover taxes, even in the lone ward where the survey was done. So, where does GIS mapping lead to? And whether the Urban Development Minister will have some mechanism in place to hold civic bodies accountable for the loss of such revenue. Preparing reports could be part of the problem, but putting those reports into action is the bigger challenge.
The minister must read between the lines and understand the tricky nuances because, in some cases, those who seek transparency and bat for GIS mapping could be the ones who are the tallest defenders of illegalities.
