MAPUSA
Stating that the Covid-imposed restrictions have put an immense burden on the common man and small-time businessmen, the Shadow Council for Mapusa has demanded reduction of the steep hike on garbage tax and appealed for tax concessions to shop owners in Mapusa.
It also demanded that proposals of resolutions to be passed in the council should be made public seven days before passing them in the council meeting.
“The sudden 100 per cent increase in garbage tax by the Mapusa Municipal Council will put an extra burden on residents who have been struggling to come to terms with job loss and halt in business activity due to Covid imposed curbs,” said Sanjay Barde, Convenor of the Shadow Council.
He further disclosed that the garbage tax has been hiked without the council taking a resolution on the issue.
In the absence of the chairperson and chief officer of the Mapusa Municipal Council, a written representation with the list of demands was handed over to councillor Sainath Raul by the convenors of the Shadow Council for Mapusa, Sanjay Barde and Sudesh Tivrekar.
The Shadow Council opined that most of the business community suffered an immense loss due to the closure of the market on account of the Covid-related curfew and urged the council to offer some tax relaxation to the merchants.
“Most of the Mapusa merchants could not conduct any business for nearly two months due to the curfew. We request the council to waive off the trade licence fees and offer tax concessions to the merchant community,” said Sudesh Tivrekar, Convenor of the Shadow Council.
He also urged the civic body to take action against a mini-market that has been set up near the Carvalho Petrol Pump allegedly without proper permissions.
“The operation of this mini-market which is situated just 200 metres away from the main Mapusa municipal market will affect the business of traditional merchants. The council should take action against this mini-market,” Tivrekar said.
Raising the issue of pollution of the Tar River, Convenor, Sanjay Barde said the Mapusa civic body should come clean whether it will be able to clear the river before the Chaturthi.
“In order to provide options to people, we will cooperate with the MMC to set up an artificial pond near the Bodgeshwar temple for the felicitation of Ganesh idol visarjan,” Barde said.
The Shadow Council also pointed out that garbage was found scattered at various open spaces in the city despite the promise made by the civic body not to allow waste dumping at open places.
It also raised the issue of overflowing nullah and the dirty water flowing on the main road and creating a health hazard near the Buildmore building.
Secretaries of Shadow Council, Siddhi Naik and Fausto D’Souza and members Nandan Nagvenkar, Jawaharlal Shetye and others were also present.
