PANAJI
Faced with widespread opposition, the Goa government has withdrawn the Ordinance it promulgated in December, proposing sweeping changes in the Goa Municipalities Act, including hiking lease rents of civic properties, computation of property taxes and tweaking rules for succession of leases.
Goa Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on Friday promulgated yet another ordinance -- The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Withdrawal Ordinance, 2021 -- to withdraw the one he had promulgated in December.
“Subject to the provisions of section 2, the Goa Municipalities Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Ordinance No. 13 of 2020) is hereby withdrawn,” said the new ordinance.
The December Ordinance had amended the Goa Municipalities Act to introduce new processes for regularising civic properties and had also proposed stiff penalties including criminal cases for illegal sub-letting, new methods for computing quantum of house tax based on market values among other changes.
The proposal had triggered widespread opposition and merchants across Goa's cities and towns had declared a bandh forcing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to announce holding the Ordinance in abeyance.
On January 4, Sawant had also publicly assured that the Ordinance will be withdrawn.
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People's power emerges supreme again: Oppn
PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat reacted to the withdrawal of the Municipal Act ordinance by asserting that “people's power has once again emerged supreme”.
“After our warning yesterday of strong protests in and out of Goa Legislative Assembly, the BJP government has now issued a notification of withdrawal of the Goa Municipalities Ordinance,” Kamat stated.
Congress assured Goans that its MLAs and leaders will raise all issues to which people have opposition. “There are apprehensions in the minds of the people about various decisions taken by the government. We will compel the government to listen to people's demand in the Assembly session commencing on Monday,” Kamat assured.
Congress said that it remains committed to protect the identity of Goa and urged the government to be sensitive towards emotions and aspirations of the public.
“I appeal to Goans to remain united and support the opposition which will help all of us to resolve issues concerning us and finding solutions to problems,” said the Leader of Opposition.
