MARGAO
Gram sabha members of Loutolim village on Sunday questioned how come the panchayat levy the light tax when the Electricity Department is charging power consumers for providing the street lighting facility.
At the first gram sabha of newly-elected Sarpanch San Francisco Fernandes after his recent election to the post, members raised the question of sopo tax, the recovery of outstanding taxes during discussions on the audit report.
The sarpanch assured the members that the panchayat would discuss the issue of levy of light tax by the panchayat at the forthcoming meeting.
When the members sought to know the status of the process initiated by the sarpanch to get the industries at the Verna Industrial Estate under the tax net, the sarpanch replied saying the process is still underway. He later told the media that the panchayat is awaiting the IDC to do a demarcation of the industries in the Verna IDC falling in the Loutolim village panchayat jurisdiction.
To a question, the sarpanch said that demand notices have been sent to the tax defaulters to clear the outstanding taxes.
On the sopo tax collection, the sarpanch conceded that the panchayat has not collected the sopo tax, but assured to immediately set in motion the process to collect the sopo tax.
‘Zonkar’ issue
Meanwhile, a group of gram sabha members made an application to the panchayat to consider including them as ‘zonkars’ of the Loutolim comunidade. The sarpanch and secretary has assured the members they would send their petition to the Revenue Department for a decision.
When the media later questioned the sarpanch over the fate of the Borim bridge, San Francisco informed that the panchayat had sent a letter to the PWD seeking details and answers on a host of issues. He, however, said the panchayat is yet to receive a reply from the PWD till date.
