The Margao Municipal Council is entirely responsible for this fiasco. They are displaying a total lack of will to resolve this issue, and the more it is delayed, the more complicated it will be. We are indeed shocked to learn thorough RTI information that the alliance of Goa Forward and BJP is not post assembly elections but it dates back to 3rd March 2016, the day when BJP Councilor seconded the resolution of sanitation fee rates, which was proposed by Goa Forward Chairperson.
Q. What is the entire agitation about, against Margao Municipal Council?
The Margao Municipal Council has resolved to charge exorbitant sanitation/garbage collection fees. These fees have to be revised but since the fees are collected through the house tax, only the legally assessed premises and those having trade license are severely affected by this. The un-assessed, who are also waste generators, enjoy free services. In short, few loyal tax-payers have to pay for everybody’s waste. If you go through the rates fixed by the Council you will learn that the rates are finalised without application of mind. Even premises like car porch are slapped with sanitation fees of Rs 600. Our demand is that, the Council should undertake data collection and list out all the waste generators for sanitation fees.
Q. Who is leading this agitation and what is the response from Municipal Council?
The Shadow Council for Margao is representing the loyal taxpayers of Margao in this agitation. We are very disappointed with the behavior of the Council. Since March 2016, the time when the Council decided on the sanitation fees, we have been demanding that the Council should undertake data collection of all waste generators in the city so that the revenue base of the Council is widened thereby making it possible to apply justified charges. Initially the Chairperson had stated that data collection would be undertaken first. Last April, sanitation fees of Rs 600 and Rs 1800 were added in the house tax of assessed residential and commercial premises respectively. This April the Council opens up the sanitation fees that were decided by the Council on 3rd March 2016, and say that they were published last April.
When we had a meeting with the CO and CP on 18th April 2017, it was agreed that the new rates will be kept on hold until revision takes place, and the CP requested for 15 to 20 days time. Till today, nothing has progressed. Even the assurance of keeping the implementation of new rates on hold was not honored. It seems like the Council is playing a game of hide-and-seek with the loyal taxpayers.
Q. Who is to be blamed for this entire fiasco?
The Margao Municipal Council is entirely responsible for this fiasco. They are displaying a total lack of will to resolve this issue, and the more it is delayed, the more complicated it will be. We are indeed shocked to learn thorough RTI information that the alliance of Goa Forward and BJP is not post assembly elections but it dates back to 3rd March 2016, the day when BJP Councilor seconded the resolution of sanitation fee rates, which was proposed by Forward Chairperson.
Q. Are you against paying the fee to collect garbage?
We are not against the fees to collect garbage, all we want is that it should be reasonable and the burden should not be imposed only on loyal taxpayers.
Even Panaji being a Corporation charges Rs 500 for collection of waste (that too from door step and in a segregated form). Small traders are charged Rs 100 to Rs 200 per month in Panaji, while in Margao it is much more. Here the Chairperson herself does not pay a single rupee towards sanitation fees, but expects and demands fees from loyal taxpayers.
Q. What is the solution for garbage collection that you suggest?
The simple solution is that all waste generators should be listed by an exercise of data collection and nominal rates have to be fixed. The Council is dreaming of some GPS method of data collection which will further pinch the municipal treasury. Instead, the data collection could be completed through the dozen odd waste (mis)management supervisors who should be entrusted with the job in their respective areas.
Q. Why this issue is not taken in the court?
Court will definitely be our final option, until than we will check out how sensitive the Council is to the taxpayers problems. Since the Goa Forward is ruling this Council, it was expected that they would guide the Council.
Q. Why issue is not discussed with the Urban Development Minister?
We have submitted representations to the Urban Development Minister as well as the Chief Minister and DMA. This issue is not limited only to the payment of sanitation fees but also the criminal negligence in tapping the revenue sources which is resulting in revenue loss of about Rs 4 crore per annum.
Q. What is your expectation from Margao Municipal Council?
The manner in which the loyal taxpayers have been subjected to humiliation by not honoring their own promises given on18th April 2017, not much is expected from this Council.
Team TNV
