MARGAO
Asserting that an attempt is being made to create false propaganda that the Margao Municipal Council has effected a steep hike in fees and taxes, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has said the people of Margao have no problem paying the fees, but they look forward to good service from the civic body.
Speaking his mind on the controversy surrounding the hike in fees implemented by the MMC from April 1, Kamat said false propaganda and rumours are being spread that the Civic body has hiked the fees by 500-1000 per cent.
Fielding questions from the media after launching hot-mixing works in the city on Thursday, Kamat said that revenue generation is important for any Municipal body to run the administration, including payment of salaries to the civic staff. Kamat, however, said that the rates on fees affected by the Margao civic body are comparatively less or have been brought on par with other civic bodies.
The Margao MLA reminded that the Margao Municipal Council has revised the fees on a host of services after 8-10 years. “The MMC has revised the rates based on a circular issued by the Director of Municipal Administration. If the MMC does not mop up the revenue, the employees will not get their salaries,” he said.
Complimenting the people of Margao for having come out to pay their annual taxes and fees, Kamat said: “People have no problem paying the fees and taxes provided they get good service from the civic body.”
Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar, who was accompanying the MLA, said the MMC has not hiked any taxes, adding that the civic body has only rationalised the trade licence fees and brought fees on some of the services on par with other Municipalities. “Let me make it very clear that the MMC has not increased the taxes. Only the trade licence fees have been rationalised,” Damu added.
