Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Council yesterday decided to increase property and other taxes by 15% which will come into effect from April 1, 2018. The hike will cover residential buildings, vacant sites, industries, trusts, cinema and marriage halls, commercial complexes, community halls, hotels, schools and colleges.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Council held yesterday that was presided over by Mayor M.J. Ravikumar. Deputy Mayor Rathna Lakshman and MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha were present. With the revision, the MCC is expected to collect Rs. 20 crore more than the existing revenue. At present, the MCC collects Rs. 65 to Rs. 70 crore.

Though there was a proposal for a hike between 20% and 30%, the Council approved a 15% hike after Corporators opposed it. MCC Commissioner G Jagadeesha said that there was a provision in the Karnataka Municipal Act 1976, Column 109 (B) to increase the tax by 30% once in three years.

Opposing a 30 percent hike, Corporators felt that the hike was steep and would burden the middle class and the poor. Cutting across party lines, they demanded a minimum hike. The Council resolved to hike taxes by 15 percent.

WATER PUMPING UNIT

The proposal to set up a new pumping station at Hongalli led to intense discussion. The proposal was to purchase new pumps with 300 HP with an estimated cost of Rs. 1.65 crore that will replace the existing 250 HP pump set. Corporator Shivakumar felt that the expenditure was unnecessary and technical experts should be consulted to make the existing pump efficient.

The current water level at KRS is 79 feet against the maximum level of 124.80 feet. In the coming weeks, when the water level goes down further, it will be difficult to pump water at Hongalli Pumping Station by drawing water from RBLL canal.

However, there is an option to draw water during emergencies by laying underground pipelines from the Cauvery River to the Hongalli Pumping Station. This will ensure non-stop pumping of water through the pumping station even if the water level goes down at KRS, the Council was informed.

HOUSING SCHEMES

The Council also agreed to increase the funds for the beneficiaries of housing schemes under the 24.1 programmes for SC and ST and 7.25% programmes for backward communities. The funds have been increased to Rs. 2.25 lakh. A few Corporators urged the Mayor to submit a proposal to the State Government to increase the funds to Rs. 3.5 lakh under the said schemes.

Corporator Purushotham expressed displeasure over the delay in distributing lands to farmers who have lost agricultural lands for development works taken up by the MCC. As many as 245 Scheduled Caste farmers have lost lands and as per the government order, issued in 1977, the MCC should provide them five guntas of land each but many farmers are yet to receive the lands.

PUBLIC TOILETS

The Council approved the proposal for construction of public toilets under Innovation for Urban Wash Solution Programme supported by National Institute of Urban Affairs and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Commissioner G. Jagadeesha said that Karnataka is one among the three States selected under the programme. The toilets will be constructed on the land identified by the MCC with funds provided under the programme.

Chairman of the Standing Committee for Town Planning and Development Nandeesh Preetham blamed the officials for being ‘apathetic’ and failing to take up development works efficiently.

“It has become difficult for us to face the people due to the negligence of the officials,” he said. He also offered to tender his resignation. However, Corporators M.V. Ramprasad, M.B. Jagadeesh and Snake Shyam convinced Nandeesh Preetham.