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Steep increase in house tax triggers heated arguments in Pondicherry Assembly
Puducherry Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed heated exchanges from members over the manifold enhancement of house tax and levying of tax for the disposal of solid waste.
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Puducherry
Replying to a question from AIADMK member A Anbazhagan during the question hour, Local Administration Minister A Namasivayam refuted the claim of Anbazhagan that the house tax was enhanced by 300 per cent and a sum of Rs 60 crore was being collected as tax for the disposal of solid waste.
He said that there was only a 100 per cent hike in the house taxes and that Rs 58 lakh was collected as tax for the waste disposal.
Namasivayam said that the tax is being levied only from Municipality areas and added that the house tax has not been revised in the Union Territory for the last 13 years. Anbazhagan responded that it is not their fault that the house tax was not revised.
He further said that the tax for waste disposal is unwarranted and it is not collected anywhere else in the country. He wondered whether the approval of the Cabinet was obtained before imposing it.
Several members including Anbazhagan, DMK member Siva, Balan, Jayamurthy, Anantharaman and K Lakshminaraynana wanted the house tax to be reduced and the tax for waste disposal withdrawn.
As the members insisted for a reply, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said that an explanation was sought from the department and after discussions with the officials a proper reply would be given.
Siva, who is supporting the Congress government, then locked horns with the Chief Minister stating that he should admit that taxes were included in the budget and must not claim that the budget was tax-free.
Plastics to be banned in Pondy: Minister
Puducherry Welfare Minister M Kandasamy on Monday told the legislative Assembly that the government would take speedy steps to ban the use of plastics in the Union Territory. Replying to a special mention from AIADMK member Vayyapuri Manikandan during zero hour, the Minister said that five meetings were convened in this regard and it was categorically stated that plastic would be banned in the UT after making alternate arrangements. Earlier, pointing out the adverse effects of plastic, Manikandan had said that several countries have taken steps to ban the use of plastic. Even the Tamil Nadu government has taken a decision to ban the use of plastics from January 1 next year, the AIADMK member said, adding that it is easy to ban the use of plastics in Puducherry.
Ruling party MLA walks out, causes flutter
Not satisfied with the reply given by the government on setting up of a private boat house here during zero-hour, ruling Congress Party member M N R Balan on Monday staged a walkout from the territorial Assembly.
Replying to a question from the member on allowing the setting up of a private boat house here, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said that private participation is a must for tourism development and it is there in all the states.
He said, as many as 10 companies have sent proposal to the government for setting up of water sports and other facilities. They were asked to get the nod from different departments of the government and four of them were shortlisted, the Chief Minister said. Of them, one has been selected. However, the government did not give permission to it and only a supportive letter was issued through the tourism department, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the government has prepared some guidelines to give permission and have forwarded those to the Law Department. After framing the guidelines, the government will give permission to setting up of a boat house or water sports facilities in Puducherry, he added. Not satisfied with the reply from the government, Balan staged a walk out stating that widespread corruption is there on the issue and that the government has failed to order an enquiry. AIADMK member A Anbazhagan ridiculed the government for the walkout and said, “It is a shame on the Congress government.”
Government whip Anantharaman, in whose constituency the boat house is to be set up, said it was only a pilot project and if the government is not satisfied, the permission will be cancelled. Asserting that private participation is a must for tourism development, he also pointed out that several projects taken up by the government are running in loss.
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