The Nagrik Sangharsh Samiti has condemned the proposal of Municipal Board President Yashpal Benam and board members to impose additional house tax on the house owners in Pauri, impose house tax on the residents of nine villages under the preview of the municipality and to increase the commercial tax levied on business community in Pauri.
The nine villages in question were exempted for house tax since 1977. At an NSS meeting presided over by its president Jagdish Bisht, the gathering expressed annoyance at the actions of the municipality president which they said would result in additional financial burden on the locals. A memorandum to this effect will be submitted to Garhwal Commissioner against the house tax proposal and if needed the people of Pauri and nine villages will launch agitation against the municipal board’s proposal.
During the meeting the people reaffirmed their support to construction of the new Collectorate building at the Jail Garden in stead of Benam’s demand for demolishing the old Collectorate building for constructing the new one. Businessmen’s Association president Virendra Rawat, former president of District Bar Association Vinodanand Barthwal, advocate Vijay Pal Singh, activist Bhagwan Verma and others present in the meeting condemned the municipality’s plan to charge additional house tax of Rs500 per room on homes in Pauri and upto Rs300 on homes in nine villages.
Bisht said that the nine villages under the preview of municipal board were exempted from house tax by the Governor’s approval from March 1977. He alleged that Benam’s move is a violation of the Municipal Act and detrimental to the public. The general view of the public is that instead of redressing civic problems like
damaged roads, improper drainage, encroachment, stray animals and improper garbage disposal the municipality is imposing additional financial burden on the people. Verma raised the demand for inquiry into alleged financial irregularities in the municipal board from the year 2,000, when the State came in existence. All attending the meet criticised Benam for publishing a notice regarding increase in commercial tax and opposed the decision.
It is pertinent to mention that the people of nine villages have already protested against the municipal board proposal for imposing house tax on them and have recently submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.