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.
