New plinth area rates to impact cost of residential & commercial … – The Goan Everyday

by | Nov 5, 2023 | Engineer

Ruling Council dismisses concerns about burden on taxpayers
MARGAO  
Residential apartments and commercial space will become more expensive in the commercial capital due to Margao Municipal Council’s decision to adopt the revised plinth area rates, which are expected to significantly impact construction license fees.
A plea by ex-Margao Municipal Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar to convene a special Council meeting to discuss the matter by inviting the MLAs of Margao and Fatorda, Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai, respectively, found no support after BJP Councilor Sadanand Naik called for the adoption of the plinth area rates.   
Ganashyam had called for inviting the two MLAs since they had previously called for the rationalization of taxes and fees in the last Assembly session.
Moreover, the ruling Council disregarded the arguments put forth by Ganasham and other Councilors, stating that the new rates would further burden honest taxpayers, while owners of illegal structures and those residing in shanties, who neither pay house tax, garbage tax, nor trade license fees, would evade the tax net. Councilor Francis Joanes argued that citizens received nothing in return from the Margao civic body despite paying taxes, with black spots being prevalent throughout the city, but these concerns did not sway MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar and Councilor Sadanand Naik, who advocated for the adoption of the revised plinth area rates.  
Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar and Municipal engineer Deepak Desai supported the adoption of the revised plinth area rates for calculating construction license fees for residential and commercial buildings, along with single dwelling building units and compound walls sent by the Principal Chief Engineer, PWD.
They noted that some Civic bodies had already started implementing the revised plinth area rates, warning that the Audit might hold the Civic body accountable for the delay in adopting the rates and order the recovery of dues.  
Following the meeting, MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar explained that the Council had to adopt the revised plinth area rates to calculate construction license fees since these rates had been adopted by other Civic bodies. He emphasized that further delays could lead to the Audit ordering the recovery of dues, creating problems for the Civic body and the people.
Ex-Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar argued that the Civic body was not obligated to adopt the PWD rates and questioned the Council’s decision to adopt the new rates without consulting the two MLAs. “No doubt, the PWD have calculated the revised rates. The PWD also  notifies the GSR rates, but we often find contractors taking contracts  by quoting 20 per cent below the tendered amount. Nothing is  sacrosanct,” he said.
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