Bhayandar: The Congress-led opposition in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has fired a fresh salvo at the BJP-governance for hatching a ploy to drain the civic coffers by illegally outsourcing the Geographical Information System (GIS) – satellite based technology for mapping and survey of properties in the twin-city.
The Congress and Shiv Sena members registered their protest in the standing committee meeting on Monday. To bring more properties into the tax bracket, the MBMC has shortlisted an agency which will charge Rs 545 per property for the Rs 27.6 crore work envisaging- numbering, physical survey, measurements, capturing photographs, GIS mapping and calculating payable tax on rateable and capital value taxation method. This apart from an additional charge of Rs 145 per property for maintenance, printing- distribution of bills.
“Despite directions that the onus of mapping properties rests upon shoulders of designated government agencies, MBMC seems adamant on doing it on its own. It’s a pro-contractor move which stinks of a scam.” alleged Congress corporator- Jubeir Inaamdar.
Refuting the charges, standing committee chairman- Ravi Vyas, said, “GIS mapping will bring more properties in the tax net, thus enhancing revenue generation for various developmental works. It’s a single time investment which is bound to reap benefits every year. All needed nods have been procured.”
Averaging Rs 203 crore as the annual revenue generation, there are a total of 3,48,477 lakh assessed properties in the twin-city. The government has mandated GIS mapping of all properties falling under the jurisdiction of class C and D civic bodies.