Margao: Shadow Council for Margao along with citizens of Margao today demanded that the concerned MLAs associated with the Margao Municipal Council should take up the cause of the citizens who are likely to be effected by the amendments related to the house tax.
The citizens were weary over the fact that their representatives had dedicated all efforts to oppose the provisions of the section 88 related to the Market’s, but have conveniently ignored the other provisions of the ordinance which are directly affecting their constituents and voter’s.
Adv. Seoula Vas, on behalf of the citizens explained how costly an affair the ordinance is going to be for the taxpayers within the city limits across Goa.
” There is going to be a new “boss” in the form of a Verification Officer, and every premise owner will have to convince this new “boss”, that the assessment/valuation of his premises is fairly done”, SCM Convener Mr. Savio Coutinho stated.
And if this new boss is not convinced, he will have the power to increase the house tax and penalize you with a fine of five times the difference between the Verification Officer’s assessment and your assessment, Coutinho added.
SCM and the citizens of Margao decided to submit a memorandum to all the 3 MLAs of Margao, Fatorda and Curtorim, appealing them to take up the matter in the ensuing assembly session.
It was also decided to organize a protest in front of the Margao Municipal building to express their objections to the amendments with relation to the house tax.
The citizens of Margao also urged people from other Municipal areas to follow suit and raise their protests before their respective leaders.
Shadow Council for Margao also announced that they shall be fielding young and bold candidates who will be the voice of their constituents, and who will not pledge their voices to their leaders. SCM appealed to citizens to come forward and contest the Municipal elections fearlessly, and ensured it’s full support to such candidates.
Arch. Carlos Gracias, Adv. Godfrey Norton, Pio Baretto, Arjun Gawande, Domnic Coutinho, Hercules Vaz, Irineu Fernandes, Maria Do Carmo, Judy Reveredo and several others were present for the media briefing.
