A Perspective on Vizag
Common man already burdened by spiraling prices of essential commodities
Visakha City, February 19, 2010
Telugu Desam activists staged a demonstration at Jagadamba junction on Friday in protest against the steep hike in municipal taxes. The protest was led by TDP district unit convener Ch Ayyanna Patrudu, TDP Mahila leader Vani and party corporators. They denounced the 50 percent hike to property tax at a time when the common man was already overburdened by the spiralling prices of essential commodities.
They said the annual property tax for a house before Visakhapatnam became GVMC in 2005 was Rs.233. It was hiked to Rs.748 after 2006 and after March 31 this year it would be Rs.1,122. They noted that the area of the corporation before 2005 was 110 sq.km and after it became GVMC its area increased to 533 sq.km. The increase in area would mean a corresponding increase in revenue.
Industries and SEZs were expected to contribute two percent of their net profits to the local bodies for development. Even if they contributed one percent, it would amount to Rs.248 crores. Taking all these in to consideration there was no need for a hike in property tax. The tax exemption given to Gangavaram Port was depriving the GVMC of annual income of Rs.10 crores. The party workers distributed pamphlet to passers by giving figures of the hike in taxes and the various options available to GVMC to increase its revenue.