The Hindu 31.07.2009

Water tax not to be raised in Dindigul

Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL: The municipal council here has decided not to revise water tax. Councillors cutting across party lines have passed a resolution in this connection at a meeting held at the municipal office here on Thursday.

Presiding over the meeting, municipal chairman R. Natarajan said that the civic body had advised to raise the water tax for residential and commercial purposes at least by 40 per cent depending on convenience of municipalities.

We had to revise the tax to Rs.100 from Rs.60 for residential connections. We planned to increase it to Rs.80. Further revision would certainly burden the residents. So the council would reject outright revision of water tax to Rs.100, he announced.

When the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) councillors wanted to know the reason for tabling the proposal that had no purpose, he replied that municipal administration insisted the council to table the revision proposal for discussion.

We had to follow the procedure. But the council had the right to reject or accept it depending on interests of people, Mr. Natarajan added.

While discussing other subjects, AIADMK councillors vociferously protested auctioning collection of entry fee from heavy and light vehicles and two-wheelers and for head loads from farmers to Gandhiji wholesale market. They charged that there were discrepancies in allotment.

After heated arguments, the council passed a resolution permitting the municipality to offer the right to a bidder who sought the collection right for Rs.9,00,1000.

After passing the bill on the basis of on-the-floor voting by councillors, he said that if there were any discrepancy in finalising tender, other bidders may go to court within seven days.