The Business Line 03.02.2010
Civic bodies urged to raise resources
Our Bureau
Mangalore, Feb. 2
The Taskforce constituted by the Government of Karnataka to implement the recommendations of the Third Finance Commission, has asked the urban local bodies to focus on mobilising resources, in order to function effectively.
Addressing members of the urban local bodies of Dakshina Kannada district here on Tuesday, Mr A.G. Kodgi, Chairman of the Taskforce, said that every local body has to ensure better tax collection for revenue mobilisation. In this regard, the local bodies have to identify the number of properties in areas under their jurisdiction and ensure proper collection of taxes. Alternate sources
Quoting the Karnataka Municipal Council Act, he said the local body should collect taxes from unauthorised or illegal properties as they receive many benefits from the local bodies. The local body should not be bothered about the status of the property, he said.
Mr Kodgi suggested that the local bodies can tap other areas such as parking fees and advertisements at public places to mobilise resources.
Officials briefed
He informed the meeting that the Third Finance Commission of Karnataka, of which he was the chairman, submitted its report in 2008. The Commission’s report had brought various issues, related to the urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions, to the notice of the Government.
Mr Kodgi said that the Taskforce had already met with state-level officials in this regard.
The Mayor of Mangalore, Mr Shankar Bhat, and the Commissioner of the Mangalore City Corporation, Mr Vijaya Prakash, informed the meeting about the measures taken by the Corporation on resource mobilisation.
Members of the Taskforce, Mr Thimmegowda and Mr Mahendra S. Kanti, and the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, Mr V. Ponnuraj, were present at the meeting.
