The Hindu 16.02.2010
Roll back property tax hike: TDP
Staff Reporter
| Party leaders stage sit-in in the Commissioner’s chamber |
Mayor promises to place the demand before the Council
A 50 per cent increase in tax too steep, says Bandaru
VISAKHAPATNAM: In an unprecedented action, the TDP on Monday went on a sit-in protest in the Chamber of the Municipal Commissioner demanding a rollback in the property tax hike. The protest lasted for about two hours and was called off only after an assurance from Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao that a proposal for reducing the tax would be placed in the Council.
The leaders stormed into the chambers after a dharna at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the morning with a good number of supporters and stayed put in the chambers demanding that the Commissioner and the Mayor talk to each other and fix a date for the Council meeting to effect a rollback. Monday is a regular ‘Grievance Day’ at the GVMC.
They spoke to the Commissioner, who was in New Delhi for a JNNURM meeting, and the Mayor. TDP MLA V. Ramakrishnababu and former MLA Chengala Venkatrao told the Mayor that unless he came and announced a date for the Council meeting they won’t move an inch.
Former minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy wanted the corporation to plug revenue leakages instead of burdening the poor. He recalled the charges of the Deputy Mayor in solid waste disposal. There was a limit to the increase that could be effected at a go and 50 per cent was too steep. TDP Floor leader Nalluri Bhaskara Rao, party leaders Bharanikana Rama Rao, V. Ganesh Kumar and around 15 corporators squatted on the floor of the chambers along with protestors.
At its meeting on February 11, the Council resolved to hike property tax by 50 per cent to all assessments and 40 per cent for non-residential properties above 25 years of age amid protests by TDP and CPI(M).
Protesting TDP leaders did not respond to the pleas of Additional Commissioner (General) S. Krishna Murthy and the police that only leaders stay in the chambers and give up squatting. The leaders left for the Mayor’s chambers only after ensuring that he turned up.
Responding to the protest, the Mayor first said the proposal would be taken up and a majority view obtained. But leaders refused it saying they resorted to the protest since the Opposition lacked numbers. The Mayor said in response to people’s views and the protest of TDP the issue would be placed before the Council. He could not take any decision and it was for the Council to take one.
Warning
Later, Mr. Venkatrao warned that a siege would be laid again if the Mayor went back on his word.
