Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jan 29: A day after BJP-led Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) presented a budget for the year 2021-22, Congress councillors on Friday January 29 termed the budget as 'anti-people' and said that it increased burden on public.
Addressing the a press meet here at Congress Bhavan, leader of opposition in the council Abdul Rauf said, "Though people are facing financial uncertainty, following the Covid-19 pandemic, the budget tabled by the ruling party for the year 2021-22, has proposed increase in property tax, water tax and trade licence fee and cess on solid waste management. This will put people in trouble and financial burden. This budget is not people friendly, instead it is anti-people.
"I have submitted a memorandum to the mayor and the commissioner to waive off the water bills from the month of March to July of 2020, as people are affected due to the pandemic. They are yet to implement it.
“The MCC has increased property tax by 15%. As there are sources of income including grants from state and union government and taxes for the MCC, there is no need to increase development tax and put more burden on people,” he said.
Stating that the ruling BJP has no humanity, Rauf said that the Congress during its term had provided 24,000 litres of water for Rs 65 but BJP is planning to provide 10,000 litres of water for Rs 60.
He also said, “The BJP has provided wrong information stating that MCC is providing Rs 25,000 including an increase of Rs 5,000 under Kutira Bhagya Yojane. But, it was Rs 25,000 earlier itself. I have asked it to be increased to Rs 50,000. Is this not wrong information?” Rauf questioned.
Corporator Shashidhar Hegde said, "It is the duty the corporation to provide basic facilities to people without hiking the tax. Development is possible through generation of revenue using existing resources. There is Smart City project, KUDCEMP, 15th Finance Commission and other programmes to generate revenue.”
“Though the Congress government was in power in the state from 2002 to 2007, the city corporation ruled by the Congress never implemented the self-assessment tax. But, the BJP-led state government has proposed taxation on vacant lands. If this is implemented, it will be a burden on people,” he said.
Corporator Naveen D'Souza said that the budget has failed to give importance to the health sector. “The budget has not given any importance for the upgradation of Primary Health Centers. Mangaluru being a Smart City, should have better traffic management with installation of traffic signals and no parking sign boards. The development fees are being increased even in MUDA and in MCC.”
Corporator Lancelot Pinto also spoke during the occasion.
Corporators AC Vinayaraj, Praveen Chandra Alva, Lathif and others were present.