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Taxpayers association opposes JNNURM extension

Monday, 01 November 2010 04:59 administrator
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The Hindu     01.11.2010

Taxpayers association opposes JNNURM extension

Staff Reporter

All the development activities have now come to a halt due to the lack of the funds

VIJAYAWADA: The Taxpayers' Association has demanded the State government not extend the JNNURM further, saying the scheme was being used for nothing but to cheat the taxpayers.

In a statement here on Sunday, association president V. Sambireddy said that instead of releasing Rs. 1,093 crore to the Municipal Corporation as per the recommendations made by first finance commission, the State government released only Rs. 7 crore in the last five years, he said.

Instead of releasing these funds it launched the JNNURM scheme, he said. In this scheme also the State government released only 11 per cent of the total funds of Rs. 470 crore, he said.

All the development activities have now come to a halt due to the lack of the funds at various levels.

Potholes in the roads, incomplete drainage works, delay in payment of teacher salaries, are some of the problems that are plaguing the Municipal Corporation because of the financial crunch.

Secretary M.V. Anjaneyulu said that the B.P.S. scheme, taxes on garbage, drinking water supply and drainage have been enhanced by VMC to raise the funds required for the scheme.

Taking all these issues into consideration we could say without a doubt that the JNNURM scheme was not a boon to the city, but a bane, he said.

It is not proper for the government to extend the scheme further. It should release the funds immediately as per the finance commission recommendations.

 

MCC to call fresh tender for water bill collection

Friday, 29 October 2010 09:23 administrator
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The Deccan Herald  29.10.2010

MCC to call fresh tender for water bill collection

Mangalore, Oct 28, DHNS

The Mangalore City Corporation will call a fresh tender to collect water bills at the earliest in the wake of mounting opposition against flaws in the existing system.

Disclosing the same at the MCC monthly meet on Thursday, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash said that the government has approved the proposal and fresh tender will be called keeping in mind the loopholes and mistakes in the water bills, being issued by Prasanna Technologies, the agency which is engaged in water billing in Mangalore. The re-tendering procedure will be completed within 20 days.

Corporator Shanker Bhat said that according to a survey, there are 70,000 water connections in the Mangalore City Corporation limits, of which 60,000 connections get the bills  but only 30,000 pay the water bills.

He said that according to a team, which visited the city to inspect water supply condition here, a sum of Rs 5 lakh gets wasted in the form of leakage and illegal water connections between Thumbay and Mangalore.

Corporator James D’Souza said that there is a need to probe into the illegal water connections from Thumbay vented dam.  Opposition members Deepak Poojary, Ashok D K and Shashidhar Hegde said that they would support the MCC if it takes steps to disconnect illegal connections. They said that many residents continue to get faulty water bills. Even after submitting applications for setting right the water bills, no action had been taken so far.

They demanded the Corporation to take steps to set right the faulty water bill issue at the earliest.Corporator Naveen D’Souza urged the authorities to blacklist Prasanna Technologies.

Meanwhile Dr Vijayaprakash suggested setting up of a call centre to set right the grievances related to the water supply and water bills. He said that setting up an ATM kiosk will enable the residents to pay the bill at any time of the day directly. To a query, he said that a sum of Rs 120 lakh has to be collected from Ullal region alone for supplying drinking water from Thumbay.

‘No development work’

Members Harinath and Shashidhar Hegde said that no development work are being undertaken in the City corporation limits for the last several months. The interior roads are in deplorable condition and the funds, which were available for the interior roads have been diverted for the concreting of the roads, they alleged.

Corporator Mariamma Thomas alleged that there was discrimination in the allocation of funds among the corporators.

Meet on CRZ

Corporator Ganesh Hosabettu said that 19 wards in the Mangalore City Corporation are affected by the Coastal Regulation Zone notification. An expert meeting should be convened immediately to collect opinion and to make necessary modifications on the notification to be submitted to the Centre. The Commissioner said that a special meeting will be convened on November 2, at 11 am to discuss on the CRZ at MCC hall. The meet will be chaired by MCC Mayor Rajani Dugganna.

Last Updated on Friday, 29 October 2010 09:27
 

In 2 weeks, just 2 public responses on new tax system

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 11:17 administrator
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Indian Express    27.10.2010

In 2 weeks, just 2 public responses on new tax system

sharvaripatwa Tags : Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, mumbai Posted: Wed Oct 27 2010, 05:20 hrs

Mumbai: Almost two weeks after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) invited suggestions and objections from the public on the new capital value-based system of property tax assessment, the civic administration has so far received only two responses, both from Bhandup.

“We hope that the responses to the new tax system will pick up in coming weeks,” said Pralhad Kalkoti, deputy superintendent, New Tax Cell.

“So far, the suggestions are not qualitative,” said a senior department official. The suggestions urge the department not to levy tax on parking lots, basements etc. “These are absurd and ridiculous suggestions. This would overturn the original Act itself,” he said. “A reply objected the use of ready reckoner rates of tax.”

The suggestions and objections are from two housing socities in Bhandup. According to an official, all the residents of the housing society have signed the suggestion and objection letters and have sent them as one. As many as 70 residents have signed one letter of suggestion and objection, and in another case, as many as 42 have put forth their joint opinion. While not many seem to have responded to the draft of the new tax system, many have approched the ward offices to obtain copies of the new tax system. “So far, around 100 copies have been sold to the public,” said an official.

The last date for accepting suggestions and objections is November 16. The civic body will put up the draft rules on its website for a month during which it hopes to invite suggestions and objections from citizens, following which modifications will be made to the draft. Copy of the draft can be obtained from ward offices for Rs 10. 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 October 2010 11:18
 
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