GHMC Council avoids discussion on property tax

Hyderabad, Feb 25 (INN): GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain strategically avoided a discussion on the property tax during the 8th ordinary meeting of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation held here on Saturday.

Although several questions related to heavy increase in property tax were listed for discussions, the GHMC Mayor ensured that they do not come up for discussion.

While the Telugu Desam Party and Bharatiya Janata Party corporators were insisting for a detailed discussion on the issue, the Mayor was successful in getting approvals for expenditure of Rs 400 crore for Biodiversity Summit and other items on the agenda.

As soon as the GHMC Council met on Saturday, BJP corporators led by floor leader Bangari Prakash entered the Council Hall with a bag carrying cash and house on either sides to give a message that residents in the GHMC limits were burdened due to hike in property tax.

Similarly, Telugu Desam Party corporators staged protest by holding placards. The opposition members demanded that the Council take up a discussion on the issue.

However, the Mayor began his speech which was completely focused on the preparations for Convention of Biological Diversity to be held during October this year.

He informed that he GHMC's Standing Committee has sanctioned several works for infrastructural improvement and beautification of Hyderabad city with an amount of Rs 400.04 crore. He listed out various works to be taken up with the sanctioned amount.

Majid Hussain also informed that the GHMC has sought special assistance of Rs 350- crore from the State Government and Rs 850 crore from the Central Government for infrastructural improvement and beautification of Hyderabad.

"We earnestly hope that the State and Central Governments would respond to our request for financial assistance and release the funds at the earliest," he said. All parties including the Congress, MIM, TDP and BJP welcomed the Mayor's opening remarks.

Soon after the Mayor completed his speech, as many as 12 TDP corporators led by deputy floor leader V Prakash Goud came near the Mayor's podium and started shouting slogans demanding withdrawal of hike from the property tax.

The pandemonium continued for about 20 minutes which forced the Mayor to adjourned the Council for tea-break.

When the Council re-assembled, BJP floor leader Bangari Prakasah pointed out GHMC was having a deficit budget. He said although the GHMC was expecting a revenue of Rs 362 crore from the State Government under various heads during the financial year 2012-13, the actual receipts would be of Rs 140 crore.

While Rs 72 crore was expected as the Property Tax of government properties, the State Government has decided to release Rs 40 crore.

Similarly, government would release Rs 100 crore against the expected Rs 230 crore under Professional Tax and Rs 60 lakh against Rs 60 crore under compensation in lieu of Motor Vehilcle Tax.

Therefore, the BJP leader wanted the budget estimates to be revised based on actual receipts from the government.

TDP floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy raised the issue of problems related to drinking water and sewerage lines in the recently merged municipalities. He said although the TDP demanded Rs 60 crore, the GHMC has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for this purpose.

He demanded the installation of five power bore-wells each in the areas of erstwhile municipalities.

Former Mayor and Hussaini Alam Corporator Mir Zulfeqar Ali said that although the GHMC has been spending funds on surrounding municipalities, the revenue towards sewerage and water charges were being collected by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

CPI MLC PJ Chandrasekhar said that the Planning Commission has approved a special development fund of Rs 4,000 crore for Bengaluru Municipal Corporation and Hyderabad was completely ignored. He demanded that the GHMC passes a resolution seeking similar funds for development.

MIM corporator Mirza Mustafa Ali Baig complained of irregularities in the lifting of garbage in the twin cities. K Rama Rao of TDP demanded that the casual labourers be provided with the facility of regular check up and medical insurance.

Sanathnagar MLA M Shashidhar Reddy insisted on the proper implementation of Disaster Management Plan in the GHMC limits. MIM's Wajahat Ali Khan asked the GHMC officials to take stern action against the installation of illegal telecom towers in the city.

While these discussions were on, the TDP and BJP members disrupted the proceedings several times demanding immediate discussion on the property tax.

However, the Mayor said that the discussions would be held as per the agenda and the property tax was the 11th item in the 12-point agenda.

However, while the discussions on hoardings were on, the TDP and Congress members hurled allegations at each other leading to pandemonium in the Council.

A few minutes later, the Congress corporators silently walked out of the council meeting. Stating that the Council lacked quorum to continue the proceedings, the Mayor announced conclusion of the meeting after declaring that all items on the agenda were deemed to be answered.