Goemkarponn Desk
MORMUGAO: After a 28-year break, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has resumed its Geographical Information Survey (GIS) Mapping project, becoming the first council in South Goa to take on such a significant undertaking. MMC Chairperson Girish Borker convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the project with representatives from GSUDA, MMC council members, and Chief Officer Deepesh Priolkar. Savio D’Souza from GSUDA emphasized the significance of the effort in a later interview with media representatives. “A correct assessment of property taxes depends on this. There is revenue leakage because the majority of constructions have not been reported. Everything would be transparent and viewable on a single Goa map with the completion of a GIS-based survey of all constructions, both authorized and unapproved, according to D’Souza.
The project will make all mapping data viewable to the public, improving accountability and transparency. By adding building licenses to the system, the MMC will have more control over tax administration and be able to monitor any incursions. The purpose of this mapping is to gather fees for services provided by the MMC; it has no effect on the legal standing of structures.” D’Souza brought up the fact that some locals have added onto their homes without amending their tax records.
Deepesh Priolkar, Chief Executive Officer of MMC, emphasized how important the GIS Mapping is to the company’s financial health. “Although we had begun manual assessments, work completed by a professional agency is more accurate. Because of our precarious financial condition, I asked the DMA and GSUDA to begin work in MMC, and the work started in North Goa “explained Priolkar. “This effort will provide accurate data that will enable us become self-sufficient and quadruple our house tax revenue. By April 2025, we hope to have this system in place. I am requesting assistance from members of the public, government agencies, MLAs, and council members. The GIS Mapping project is expected to improve revenue collection, modernize property tax assessment, and give MMC the financial stability required for upcoming projects,” Priolkar continued.
