MARGAO
Taking a dig at various political outfits and functionaries jumping on to the bandwagon to oppose the amendment to the Goa Municipal Act, Shadow Council for Margao questioned their shortsightedness in ignoring other amendments concerning every household within the municipal jurisdictions.
While saying the SCM definitely supported the genuine demand of Goan lease holders in the various markets, who have been conducting business for several generations, SCM Convenor Savio Coutinho, however, said other provisions for tackling the issue of government premises going into the hands of migrants also needs due attention.
He pointed out that the ordinance also speaks about a new system for tax calculations of various types of properties/premises. “It is a well-known fact that changes in the taxation system do not come with a discount; it always comes with an additional financial burden,” Coutinho rued.
“We expected that the cries over the amendments/substitution in section 88 would easily reach the ears of the government, since several politicians or their kin have municipal premises operated by them, and pay to the council a negligible rent of less than Rs 100 per month, while on the other hand earn lakhs by subletting the same,” he added.
Coutinho called upon the residents/taxpayers within the municipal jurisdictions to go through the amendments/substitutions in Goa Municipal Act, more specifically section 101, 109, 110, 111, 114, 117, 118, 120, 122, saying all these are concerning the property/house tax.
SCM demanded that the government should make the exact tax liability known to the taxpayers within municipal jurisdictions. It also demanded that the new taxation system should not be implemented in the coming financial year as proposed in the ordinance.
