Mangalore, April 2: The opposition party of the Mangalore City Corporation has condemned the decision of Mayor Praveen Anchan to unilaterally increase the property tax rates by 15% with affect from April 1, without consulting them.
Addressing media persons here on Saturday, MCC Opposition leader Lancelot Pinto said that none of the opposition party Corporators were present when the Mayor formally announced the property tax hike after inviting media persons to his chamber on March 31.
It is undemocratic to take such unilateral decisions in a civic body without discussing the issue with the opposition parity, he said, adding that this is not for the first time BJP led MCC breaching the convention.
Commenting on the MCC's solid waste management scheme, Pinto said that although it seems to be a positive initiative, the fees charged on the basis of house are exorbitant.
As per the new MCC rules, buildings having less than 1,000 square feet area should pay Rs 10, those having area between 1,000 and 3,000 square feet should pay Rs 30 per month and those exceed an area of 3,000 square feet must pay Rs 50 per month as solid waste management cess.
Pinto pointed out that just because people live in big houses does not mean that they produce more waste than those who live in smaller houses. “The rates are therefore not fixed in a proper manner,” he added.
“The opposition party strongly condemns and protests the decision of Mayor,” he said.
Former Mayor Ashraf, Shashidhar Hegde, Harinath and Nagendra Kumar were present along with Pinto.
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