House Tax hike sparks outrage among Margao residents

Last week, a group of concerned Margao residents marched to the local municipality to protest the proposed increase in house tax and garbage collection fees. The demonstrators, consisting of homeowners, tenants, and small business owners, expressed their frustration at what they perceive as an unfair taxation system. Although initially stopped by the police from entering the building, a delegation of 10 individuals was ultimately allowed to meet chairperson Damodar Shirodkar to discuss their grievances.

The delegation, which included notable residents like Savio Coutinho, Snehal Onskar, Carlos Gracias, Pio Barreto, Maria do Carmo, Sayed Iftiyaz, and Damodar Onskar, urged that the tax hike be postponed until all unassessed properties are included in the tax net. They argued that Margao's current taxation system unfairly targets legally assessed properties while unassessed ones continue to enjoy municipal services at the expense of taxpayers.

The group expressed their long-standing concern with the taxation system, calling it "unjustified and discriminatory." They emphasized that by addressing unassessed properties and ensuring they pay their fair share, the municipality would benefit from an increased revenue stream and reduce the burden on law-abiding taxpayers.

Jose Maria Miranda, a member of the delegation, highlighted the existence of thousands of unassessed properties in Margao, which he believes are being used as vote banks by politicians, thereby hindering efforts to assess them. Miranda pointed out that even locked shops, houses, and flats not generating waste are being charged garbage collection fees, further illustrating the unfairness of the current system.

The delegation contended that if all unassessed properties were properly taxed, the municipality would have more than enough funds, making tax increases unnecessary. They cited estimates that incorporating unassessed properties into the tax net could bring in several crores of rupees in additional revenue every year.

Coutinho emphasized that their demands would not only benefit loyal taxpayers but also bolster the council's revenue collection. "We urged the chairperson to act in the interest of not only the loyal taxpayers but also to act in the interest of the council by further boosting its revenue collection," he said, as published in ET Realty.

During the meeting with Shirodkar, the delegation presented a list of suggestions for improving the taxation system, which included streamlining the assessment process, implementing a transparent mechanism for monitoring tax compliance, and increasing efforts to identify and assess currently unassessed properties. In response to the delegation's concerns, Shirodkar assured them that the municipality would look into the matter and consider their suggestions before making any final decisions regarding the proposed tax increases.

In conclusion, Margao residents are urging the local municipality to reconsider the proposed house tax and garbage collection fee increases. They call for a fairer taxation system that includes all unassessed properties, which would ultimately generate more revenue for the municipality and alleviate the need for tax hikes. The outcome of this protest and the municipality's response will have significant implications for the future of Margao's taxation system and the financial well-being of its residents.

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House Tax hike sparks outrage among Margao residents

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