The Chennai Corporation’s council meeting has adopted a resolution to
revise the property tax up to 200 per cent for the IT  firms situated
across the city.

Accordingly, property tax for IT companies, which
are categorised as Specialty Buildings, located in Anna Nagar,
Teynampet, Kodambakkam and Adyar zones has been revised by 200 per cent.

While
100 per cent revision has been effected to the IT institutions in
Manali, Royapuram Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Sholinganallur zones, 75 per
cent revision has been fixed for the firms operating in Valasaravakkam
zone. IT companies at Alandur, Ambattur and Tiruvottiyur must pay a 50
per cent hiked property tax.

Since no objection was received from
the general public, the resolution to collect the revised property tax
is being forwarded to the Government for approval.

Feasibility Study 

The
Chennai Corporation’s council meeting on Wednesday adopted a resolution
for constructing skywalks at Mambalam railway station and Parry’s-Fort
railway station.

This apart, feasibility study will be conducted
for link roads in Adyar and Koyembedu, tenements at Nungambakkam,
subways at Mylapore, Walajah Road and Thyagaraya Nagar.

The
council adopted another resolution for earmarking `1.50 crore for
acquiring private land to expand Sterling First Lane and Sterling Avenue
Road, in a bid to decongest traffic on Sterling Road, Nelson Manickam
Road and College Road. 

Muslim Cemetry

Following
representations from Muslims, the Chennai Corporation has earmarked
land measuring about 50 cent on Velacherry-Taramani 100-ft road for
being used as burial ground for the Muslims.

Mayor Saidai
Duraisamy said at the council meeting that the land was allocated,
following direct recommendations of the Chief Minister in this regard.

Pay Cut Mooted 

Mayor
Saidai Duraisamy has warned that salary would be reduced for
conservancy workers, who fail to execute their responsibilities.
Duraisamy also added that registers would be maintained to record the
details regarding the places where the conservancy employees work and
the number of days of their employment.

Stormwater Drains

Warning
of stern action against those who misuse stormwater drains to discharge
sewage, Mayor Saidai Duraisamy said that licences of commercial
establishments would be cancelled, if they were found indulging in such
violations. The mayor said this following questions from Councillors
pointing out that stormwater drains  is being connected to sewage lines
from shops and houses. This resulted in stagnation of rainwater during
monsoon, causing health and traffic problems, they added. “We had
already issued notices to some violators. The ward councillors should
also identify such illegalities in their areas and ensure action,” the
mayor added.

Houses Included

While the
Mayor warned commercial establishments of licence-cancellation if they
let sewage into stormwater drains, it was not clear what the penalty
would be if the illegality was done by residential buildings. When
contacted by Express, the mayor clarified that the focus presently was
on commercial establishments and the action against houses would follow
later.