Team Goemkarponn
MARGA: The Margao Congress Block today launched its door to door Awareness Campaign against the proposed hike of taxes/fee’s by the Margao Municipal Council. Plan to meet Fatorda and Curtorim MLA, hold meetings in all wards, and finally to hold a Protest in front of the Municipal building on 28th March.
Holding a banner with a caption “Jab Tak DK hai, Tab Tak Vasooli sirf taxpayers se”, the Congress leader Mr Savio Coutinho along with Adv. Snehal Onskar, Lincoln Gomes, Aziz Shah, Aneil Alvares, Damodar Onskar, Camilo Camara, Sujata Parsekar, Maria do Carmo Pereira and Domnic Coutinho visited various commercial establishments in Margao. Copies of the Rate Chart were handed over, while explaining to them the additional financial burden they are likely to face post 1st April 2025.
Congress came down heavily on the Chairperson of MMC, for lying to the Madgaonkars, that the proposed hike was only 20%, while in reality the hike ranges from 50% to 500%.
Margao MLA Digamber Kamat has recently announced that he will be working for Margao “full swing” from 1st April 2025. “There Wil be only “full swing” extortion that will start from 1st April through these hiked taxes”, Mr Coutinho charged.
Congress made a strong demand to withdraw and withhold the proposed hike. “There is an ongoing Survey of all premises within the Municipal limits, once the Survey is completed, it will be possible to work out the additional revenue that can be collected from the unassesed/un-licensed premises. Based on this the Council can decide whether a hike is necessary in the first place”, Coutinho suggested.
The Chairperson is on record having stated that through a Survey conducted, it is realized that in his own ward 40% premises have no trade licences and are operating illegally. This itself is a good reason to hold on with the hike till all such premises are brought under the tax net, Coutinho said.
Through the Awareness Campaign we wish to awaken the taxpayers about the rude shock they may face when they go to pay their taxes. We hope that the mentor of the Margao Municipal Council takes necessary steps to withdraw the hike Mr Coutinho said.
