Panaji: Urging that new taxation system should not be implemented in the coming financial year, Shadow Council for Margao has raised concerns over amendments in the contentious proposed Municipality Ordinance.
Taking a dig at the various political outfits and functionaries jumping on to the bandwagon to oppose the amendment of section 88 and other linked provisions of the Goa Municipal Act, Shadow Council for Margao questioned their shortsightedness over ignoring the other amendments concerning each and every household within the Municipal jurisdictions.
We definitely support the genuine demand of Goan lease holders in the various markets, who have been conducting business for several generations, however other provisions for tackling the issue of government premises going into the hands of migrants, also needs due attention.
SCM Convener Savio Coutinho pointed out that the ordinance dated December 22, 2020, also speaks about new system for tax calculations of the various types of properties/premises. “It is a well known fact that changes in taxation system doesn’t come with a discount; it always comes with an additional financial burden “, Coutinho rues.
As such, considering the Municipal elections due shortly, it was expected that our leaders would address the issue of Property/House tax aswell, he stated. But as our genuine taxpayers are always an unorganized lot, they are unlikely to get together, unless their political leaders give a call, Coutinho lamented.
We well 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 100 rupees per month, while on the other hand earn lakhs by subletting the same.
We call upon all 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. All these amendments/substitutions are concerning the property/house tax, Coutinho stated.
“Come the next financial year, and hiked bills for sanitation fees, house tax etc. shall pour on the taxpayers, and all the elected representatives will express helplessness”, SCM cautioned.
Shadow Council for Margao has been consistently raising the issue of fleecing the taxpayers with unjustified sanitation fees, and misusing the same. The Solid Waste Management byelaws, that provides for hiking the sanitation fees further, was also raised by the SCM. The elected representatives however conveniently ignored the financially burdened taxpayers, Coutinho charged.
Now fresh elections will come, and our leaders will again come with pre-muted candidates, trained to nod their heads exclusively to the direction’s of their leaders.
SCM demands that the government should make the exact tax liability known to the taxpayers within Municipal jurisdictions. It is further demanded that the new taxation system should not be implemented in the coming financial year, as proposed in the ordinance.
