MARGAO
The Shadow Council of Margao on Sunday handed over memorandums to the three MLAs, who come under the Margao Municipal Council jurisdiction, with a plea to the government that any changes to the Goa Municipalities Act be made after wide consultation with all stakeholders and after debate in the Assembly.
An SCM delegation led by convenor Savio Coutinho offered a host of suggestions mostly on property, including the suggestion that the current form of calculation of property tax (as it were before the amendment to ordinance of 2020) be continued for the municipalities with a nominal base value for calculation.
The NGO also suggested that the draconian provision for tax at capital value system be rescinded absolutely, with the delegation imploring upon the government to look into the demands sympathetically and adopt a humane approach towards the genuine concerns vis-a-vis the ordinance.
On the tax on vacant premises, the delegation said in terms of premises that are vacant within the municipal area, under the Amendment Act, the taxpayer shall be liable to pay full property tax as assessed.
The delegation pointed out the provision will expose NRI/other unoccupied premises to be liable to tax in the same manner as if the same were occupied by the owner and now there will be no time limit for recovery of arrears.
