MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council finally released the salaries of the staff and employees for the month of September on Thursday, even as the Chief Officer did some tough talking, threatening to seal the business premises of tax defaulters if the taxes are not cleared by October 15.
After constant appeals to citizens and business houses, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has finally decided to get down to serious business with tax defaulters.
After struggling to arrange salaries of the staff as tax collections have dropped considerably due to non-payment of taxes and huge amounts outstanding in the form of arrears, the Chief Officer on Thursday sounded the bugle.
“The MMC has always stood by Margao's business community and also the citizens within its jurisdiction by prompt garbage clearing and resolving sanitary issues. Now despite all our efforts, there is still reluctance noticed in the repayment of arrears. Hence, the council has decided to act tough and seal shops which have not paid up taxes”, the Chief Officer said.
To recover the tax dues and arrange funds for the payments of salaries, the CO said that most of the staff from Taxation Section was sent on field duty from 9.30 am to 1 pm to recover the outstanding dues while they attend to their duties in the evening session so that office work is not hampered.
Saying that additional field staff will be deployed from tomorrow and maximum areas will be covered, the Chief Officer said that serving of notices will be completed by October 15 and the sealing process of establishments of the defaulters and those running business without trade licence will be taken up on a war footing, after seven days.
"We have given a long rope to the defaulters. The MMC has been very understanding to the hardships due to the virus and lockdowns, but business is as usual, income is coming in and the MMC also needs revenue for its normal functioning”, he added.
The CO reiterated, the MMC stands by the business community and the citizens at all times and the good relations of citizens, businessmen and MMC must always be kept intact.
Sources said the MMC has paid only the net salaries to the staff and employees, adding that the civic body is now on the job to arrange funds to the tune of Rs 30-40 lakhs for the payment of wages of daily wage and contract workers.
