The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to increase taxes from April 25. However, many residents of Margao and Fatorda have strongly opposed this decision and staged a protest outside the council building, demanding that the hike be withdrawn.
The tax increase is quite steep. For example, the house tax transfer fee has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000, and other taxes have also been increased. According to citizens, the MMC has outstanding dues of around Rs 33 crore. They also pointed out that Rs 18 lakh was misappropriated by a clerk, and the amount is yet to be recovered.
Residents argue that the tax hike will mainly impact those who regularly pay their taxes, while defaulters will remain unaffected. Many traders operate businesses without valid licences, and several illegal structures and unauthorised businesses exist in Margao, yet the MMC has not taken action against them.
Small traders and business owners suffered huge losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of burdening taxpayers with steep hikes, the council should listen to public grievances. Recently, the MMC renovated and repainted its building, and it appears the tax hike is aimed at recovering those expenses.
The council should first focus on recovering pending dues and ensuring that all businesses have valid licences before revising taxes. Any tax revision should be reasonable”around 20%”instead of the reported hike of 50% to 300%. The chairperson and councillors must reconsider this decision and find a fair solution in the public’s interest.
