The Hindu 20.01.2010
Crucial GVMC meeting today
Staff Reporter
| It will take up the unfinished agenda of the Nov. 7 and 12 meetings |
Increase in property tax for residential buildings sought
Hike in deposit rates for tap connections, water tax proposed
VISAKHAPATNAM: The much awaited Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s ‘adjourned meeting’ is taking place on Wednesday. The meeting will take up the unfinished agenda of the November 7 and 12 meetings and more importantly, Deputy Mayor K. Dorabbai who made a charge of “Rs.1,000 crore scandal” in solid waste management is expected to substantiate it.
Meanwhile, majority of corporators who absented themselves from the January 6 budget meeting of the corporation seemed to have partially achieved their object. The replacement of Congress floor leader B.S.S. Srinivasa Rao with his deputy Behera Bhaskara Rao and electing K.Hanoku as deputy leader is an arrangement that will continue, it was agreed at a meeting the corporators had, with Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao present, on Tuesday. That also met another demand of the sulking corporators that an informal meeting be held ahead of the corporation meeting.
But they have not given up on their demand for replacing the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
“The issue will be raised at the extended meeting on January 24,” said a senior corporator.
Tuesday’s meeting also favoured a discussion on the allegations in the solid waste management made by the Deputy Mayor.
At the January 6 meeting when the opposition pressed for a debate on the issue, the Congress wanted the budget proposals to be given priority to meet the statutory deadlines.
The Mayor, on his part, declared that he would resign and retire from politics if the charges were proved.
Tax hike
For the municipal corporation facing a fund crunch, the meeting is important as it seeks to increase the property tax for residential buildings in accordance with a September, 2007, notification and also in the 32 panchayats merged in the GVMC as notified in December, 2006.
Besides, it also urges the State Government to remove the cap of 50 per cent hike for non-residential buildings as it has not been revised in 1994 and 2002 when the it was effected in the other civic bodies.
It also proposes to increase the deposit rates for tap connections as well as water tax.
