HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, April 25: Sivasagar Municipality Board (SMB), on Tuesday, in a meeting with the executive officer, Sivasagar Municipality Board, Sabyasachi Kashyap spoke on the present status of the municipality rax and the government’s move to enhance property tax. He said that the Finance Commission in a release ordered all LSGs to utilise local resources for self-sufficiency, failing which the LSGs may lose the Commission’s grants and financial aids.
Presided over by the SMB chairperson Mrinali Konwar, J Kalita explained the mechanism of tax assessment and the existing irregularities in tax collection. The tax collection will be done compulsorily from April 1, 2024 in the old tax slabs as per government decision.
Umesh Changkakoty and Saurobh Bhagawati stressed on collecting property taxes from the government holdings which are pending to the tune of a crore. Ratan Saikia, in his speech urged the SMB to keep drainage in the Paschim Jamuna Road clear.
Manoj Kr Borthakur, urged SMB to clarify the receipt and expenditures of the 14th and 15th Finance Commission, Amal Dutta, Pradip Dutta, and some others stressed on preparation of an annual budget by the SMB.
Faridul Ishlam said that the municipality does not have any right to grant rebates to taxpayers as it will inspire other defaulters to neglect paying tax for many years. Sirajul Islam blamed SMB for not taking action against the illegal occupiers of the footpaths. Debabrat Borthakur said that the defaulters should not be spared or given any relief at the expense of regular tax payers money.
