GUWAHATI: State Congress Secretary and President of All India Professionals' Congress (AIPC) Assam unit Gaurav Somani has sharply criticised the Guwahati Municipal Corporation for the increase in property tax by three to four times.
Somani posed the question to the GMC officials whether they have been able to provide better services in three to four fold manner, while improving all the civic amenities.
Somani also said that the GMC officials have increased the tax as it was not increased for the last several years as claimed by the authorities. But the reality is that there has not been any improvement too in the civic amenities for the last several years, till date.
The problems faced by residents, like bad roads, shortage of drinking water, potholes, inefficient drainage system and the scourge of artificial floods on an annual basis are still unresolved in the city.
Meanwhile, domestic waste remains dumped on roadside for days on end and there is no proper system of regular collection by GMC or the NGOs employed for the purpose, said Somani. "Uncovered culverts and footpath are still unattended by the GMC authorities inviting the danger of serious accidents for the pedestrians on a daily basis. The condition of roads in city have gone from bad to worse", he added.
Somani also pointed out that sprucing up the city prior to visits by the national VIP political figures and renovation of existing parks in the city cannot be the benchmark for city's civic development. Somani questioned can the GMC pinpoint any one civic problem which they have been able to resolve successfully for the Guwahatians.
Therefore, he stressed that this increase cannot be justified.
AIPC has demanded the rollback of increased tax by GMC and also has urged the general public to raise their voices in protest against this move. Property tax hike and APDCL digital smart meters have become a tool for the BJP to loot Guwahatians. This has hit Guwahatians like a tsunami wave. The public is already under the burden of all time high inflation.
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