Andhra Pradesh

Councillors boycott municipal meet

Sangareddy: Amid heated exchanges and protests councillors, irrespective of political affiliations, boycotted the municipal general body meeting here today over hike in property tax, tax receipt scam of Rs. 40 lakh and inability of the Commissioner to protect lung space meant for parks. The councillors also warned the Commissioner that they would not attend another meeting till the issues they have raised are addressed.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) councillor B. Mallesh demanded explanation from the Municipal Commissioner Kondaiah on the delay in sending the unanimous resolution of the general body to the government demanding reduction of property tax which has been hiked to almost 300 per cent. The general body, basing on the representation of the tax payers association here, passed a resolution citing the rule that the hike shouldn’t cross 12.5 per cent. Taking a serious note of the explanation of the Commissioner that there was shortage of staff, Bharatiya Janata Party councillor Shekhar said that the delay has caused severe loss to the property owners as they have been receiving tax notices even after passing resolution two months ago. The Commissioner announced that he would send the resolution to the government within three days.

The councillors then demanded the Commissioner to display all the counter foils of property tax receipt books for the inspection of the members.

The councillors questioned why the books were printed in far away Guntur, giving a chance for misuse. The councillors also demanded the commissioner to enlist the steps taken to protect the lung space ear marked for developing parks in the municipal area.

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