Civic body criticised for misplaced priorities amid ongoing service lapses
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
In a surprising move that has sparked confusion and criticism, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has once again passed a resolution to impose a tax on pet dogs – a decision that had already been resolved six years ago but never implemented.
The re-adoption of the same resolution has raised serious concerns about administrative inefficiency, poor planning and a lack of institutional memory within the civic body.
The issue dates back to 2019, when the then-MMC passed a resolution to levy a nominal annual tax on residents who keep pet dogs within municipal limits.
The tax was intended to promote responsible pet ownership and regulation of stray populations.
However, the plan never saw the light of day.
Now, in 2025, the council has inexplicably passed the same resolution again, drawing criticism from residents.
Former councillors questioned the necessity of re-passing the resolution.
“A municipal resolution, once approved, remains valid unless it is officially revoked in a subsequent council meeting,” said Sandip Fallari, a former chairperson with experience in civic governance.
“If it was never implemented, the question should be why it wasn’t, rather than passing the same resolution again. This reflects poor record-keeping and planning,” he added.
Fallari also criticised the council for overlooking more urgent issues, such as garbage collection and pre-monsoon preparations.
“It seems like their priorities are misplaced. Instead of rehashing old resolutions, they should be addressing problems that demand immediate attention,” he remarked.
The timing of the renewed focus on dog tax has also drawn public ire, as the municipality continues to struggle with basic civic issues.
From uncollected garbage in open areas to deteriorating roads and erratic functioning of municipal services, residents accuse the council of misplacing its priorities.
“Instead of improving essential services, they’re wasting time revisiting old decisions. We have overflowing drains, potholed roads and officials who won’t even answer queries without multiple visits. Is taxing dogs really the burning issue right now?” said Rina Fernandes, a resident of Duler, Mapusa.
Another local Sudhir Prabhudesai, echoed the sentiment: “This dog tax decision seems more like a distraction from their failure in garbage management and overall administration.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior MMC official admitted that the original resolution had "got lost in transition" between different council terms. “There was no deliberate attempt to delay it, but due to elections and changes in leadership, the matter wasn’t prioritised,” the official said.
