MARGAO
Addressing a press conference, Coutinho said during every festival, some politicians put up banners/ hoardings/ signages all over the city but hardly anyone obtains permissions for the same by paying the applicable fees. “The SCM has learnt that the Council has collected a revenue of less than Rs 500 towards all the signages put up. As charges towards such display is only Rs 16 per square metre, we appeal
to all those who have not paid the applicable fees to do so post-facto and set an example for other citizens,” Coutinho remarked.
The SCM further pointed out that over 90% of various signages/ hoardings, etc are displayed without valid permissions. “The Council is losing funds to the tune of lakhs of rupees from such advertisements,” claimed Coutinho.
The SCM also claimed that though hundreds of hoardings stand tall all over the city, not a single rupee by way of tax is collected from these hoardings while advertisement companies earn lakhs per year and the Council
earns nothing.
Coutinho said that SCM shall identify and provide revenue sources so that the Council need not ever complain over shortage of funds for the development of the city.
