Team Goemkarponn
SALIGAO: A proposal by the Saligao panchayat to increase house tax by 30 percent met with strong opposition from villagers during the gram sabha held on Sunday, with residents urging that the burden instead be placed on commercial properties.
The panchayat had proposed the hike citing that the house tax had remained unchanged for the past three years. As per government guidelines, local bodies may revise house tax every three years by around 10 percent. However, the sharp 30 percent increase drew widespread criticism from residents, who argued it was excessive and unfair to ordinary homeowners.
Several speakers suggested that the panchayat identify residential premises being used for business activities and impose higher taxes on such properties instead. Ward members were asked to prepare a list of commercial establishments for further review before any revision is finalised.
Meanwhile, the panchayat received praise for its strong stance against the proposed buffer zone around the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) plant in Saligao. Villagers endorsed the panchayat’s earlier resolution opposing the acquisition of additional comunidade land for the garbage plant’s buffer zone.
Sarpanch Lucas Remedios informed the gathering that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured him there would be no expansion of the existing plant. However, local resident Liberata Madeira questioned whether the assurance was given in writing. When the sarpanch replied that it was verbal, she urged the panchayat to seek a formal written confirmation from the Chief Minister.
Former comunidade president Desmond D’Costa called on the comunidade to pass a resolution rejecting any proposal to part with more land for the GWMC facility, stressing the need for a united stand on the issue.
The meeting also discussed public transport concerns, with some participants acknowledging improvements in village connectivity due to the efforts of local MLA Kedar Naik. However, Madeira pointed out that residents of Arrarim had been left without regular bus services for almost a year. “Only one Kadamba bus operates between Panaji and Calangute via Arrarim. If that route is accessible to government buses, private operators should also be permitted,” she said.
During the discussion, an exchange between the sarpanch and Madeira drew attention when Remedios remarked, “Bhiv pachi garaz na” (no need to fear), to which Madeira quipped, “Bhiv pachi garaz assa” (nowadays, there is need to fear everywhere in Goa).
The gram sabha concluded with the panchayat agreeing to reconsider the proposed house tax hike and to write to the Chief Minister for written clarity on both the garbage plant expansion and buffer zone proposal.
