In a first, the Hubballi-Dharwad municipal corporation (HDMC) has decided to form a special task force to mobilise revenue and also conduct a Geographic Information System (GIS) survey to bring properties under the tax net.
During a general body meeting held in Hubballi on Thursday at the renovated meeting hall after a year’s gap, a heated discussion took place on revenue mobilisation for HDMC brought up by former mayor Veeranna Savadi.
Savadi accused the officials in HDMC of showing a lethargic attitude towards mobilising the revenue, and said the officials should work hard and at least mobilise revenue up to Rs 900 crores, as the budget tabled showed revenue generation of Rs 1,138 crore.
He levelled charges against officials of HDMC and said they are only focussing on the routine tax collection of properties but are least bothered of mobilising revenue from other sources. Pointing at collection of stallage, neglected leased properties, delay in using newly constructed commercial buildings, railways, PWD, transport department, Hescom and other properties, he said they have not been brought under tax net and officials are not collecting taxes from them.
Savadi also suggested that officials form a special task force comprising senior officials from different departments and initiate action to collect revenue and also for mobilisation. “You should act tough without yielding to any pressure,” he advised the officials.
Imran Yaligar, Suvarna Kalakuntla, Arif Bhadrapur, Tippanna Majjagi, Chandrashekhar Managundi and other corporators also spoke against poor efforts for revenue mobilisation by HDMC officials.
Floor leader in HDMC Shivu Hiremath said the officials should take up all needful measures to mobilise revenue, and submit a detailed report on action taken in the next general body meeting.
Replying to the discussion, HDMC commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi said that he will initiate immediate action to form a special task force and measures will be initiated to auction leased properties, conduct a GIS survey by assigning private agencies and others, he added.
After hearing the discussion, mayor Veena Bhardwad passed a ruling that the officials should focus on revenue mobilisation.
During the meeting, issues on cleaning, deployment of pourakarmikas, issues related to SWM and other issues were also discussed. Replying to the grievances raised by the corporators, commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi said that he will take stern action against health inspectors and others if they failed to maintain cleanliness in the wards under their jurisdiction.
