The Indian Express 08.11.2013
I’ve failed to figure out property tax policy, says mayor
Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria on Thursday said he had failed to understand the property tax policy.
"I myself have failed to understand this complicated formula and the policy adopted by the government," the mayor said during a meeting at Circuit House to oversee the preparations for the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on November 15. "How can I convince people to pay this tax?" The mayor was replying to a query raised by Ludhiana (South) MLA Balwinder Singh Bains as to why property tax collection was so low.
"What followed was complete silence and embarrassing expressions on the faces of dignitaries like MC Commissioner Rahul Tewari, Additional Commissioner Sumit Jarangal and others. No one had any answer," said a source present at the meeting.
The mayor said that "collection from regularisation of plots and colonies has been lower than expectations". "We were expecting around Rs 100 crore at least but it is nearly Rs 32 crore only. We need to work on the drawbacks and find reason for downfall," he told Newsline after the meeting.
The meeting also witnessed a fight between Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Singh Bains and Jagdev Gohalwaria, personal assistant to SAD leader Hira Singh Gabaria.
"Gabaria's PA started some talk about works pending in Atam Nagar and Simarjit Bains reacted sharply. He told PA to keep quiet and reminded them of the defeat they faced in the elections and then the PA did not utter a word," said the source.
It was BJP leader Satpal Gosain who listed all the problems and projects stalled in the city and then walked out of the meeting. "Yes, I have problems with the projects stalled after I lost the elections. I have no issues with the new foundation stone laying plans of Deputy CM but first I want the old stalled projects to be completed," Gosain told Newsline.
He added that major incomplete works included covering of nullah from Dukhnivaran Sahib to Shagun Palace, laying of storm water sewerage in Janakpuri and covering of another nullah from Transport Nagar to cremation ground gaushala. "Who will do all these pending works?" he asked.
A K Mahajan, special principal secretary to the Deputy CM, questioned the MC commissioner and MLAs on why the city bus project started last year was still not profitable and famous with the residents.
PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said on November 15, the Deputy CM would lay foundation stones of six projects, including eight-laning of Ferozepur road worth Rs 300 crore and various developmental projects in different wards worth Rs 88 crore. He would also be giving keys of flats built for slum dwellers at Gyaspura.
