Cess is ok but we want results: Citizens

Cess is ok but we want results: Citizens
DH News Service Bangalore:
Collect cess but show us the results is what Bangaloreans seem to be telling Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike officials.


Collect cess but show us the results is what Bangaloreans seem to be telling Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike officials. Many said it is reasonable that the BBMP wants to collect new cess - but they want assurance that funds will go into infrastructure projects, yielding definite results.

Some suggested involving citizen groups to ensure the funds allocated for projects don’t just remain on paper, but are channelised in the right manner.

A member of a citizen’s forum even suggested involving citizen’s groups in modifying the current budget.

Others questioned the need for new cess as they perceived indifference on the part of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike.



‘Divert cess into development projects’

It is reasonable that the BBMP wants to collect cess and revise the fees, as lately we have been seeing progress in development works.

However the cess collected should be diverted into infrastructure projects which will be a boon to Bangalore.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike should form citizen committees in every locality and have two income tax payers of each road certify that certain works are completed according to the bill raised.

However, I am against pay and park as its hefty and when I am paying road tax I dont see why should I be paying parking fees as well?

Purushottam

Businessman

‘Cess to affect common man’

“Collecting the proposed cess will affect the common man as things are already expensive.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike is indifferent to their work. For example we need to pay extra to the people who come to collect garbage after having paid for that anyway, so what is the point of collecting cess and revising fees?”

Mrs Ravishankar

Housewife



‘Priority should be roads’

The priority should have been roads - we need more flyovers because of the appaling traffic situation, but there is allocation for widening of some of the roads which is welcome.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike can collect cess and revise fees as long as we see it actually translate into improving our infrastructure and amenities.

Kalrav Shah

Software engineer

‘Impact fee, cess is justified’

The impact fee for high rise buildings is absolutely justified.

The cess for stormwater drains and solid waste management is also reasonable as the site and building owners have assets, so, they can spend a portion of it on developmental works which will benefit them and others. They can collect parking fees but should remove the caveat-parking at owner’s risk.

S Ganesh

AGM, Sugar factory



‘Utilise funds properly’

“There is so much corruption, so if they are are collecting cess and revising fees, these funds should be utilised properly.

The impact fee is alright as a portion of the rent that is charged can go towards the fee.”

Dev Chand

Businessman

‘New cess is most unscientific’

We do not want the government to approve the budget without certain modifications. We are not ready to pay anymore additional cess.

In another few months we will be completing 60 years of Independence and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike should be thinking in terms of providing minimum basic necessities to the residents of the City.

Its top priority should be water, sanitation, health and education.

There cess collected so far has not been prioritised well and the new cess are most unscientific.

They cannot impose cess as and when they want and should have a clear cut agenda in their budget announcement itself.

Our suggestion to the government is to invite a few members of the Citizen’s Action Forum (CAT) and discuss the budget with them in detail.

The Citizen’s Action Forum has already prepared a surplus budget for Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike and handed the same over to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr A Ravindra.

They should take up this challenge and make it a model budget for other cites - plan well in collection of revenue and systematic spending of funds towards people’s welfare.

Apart from elected representatives, they should involve citizento ensure the funds actually go towards the projects.

A V Shama Rao,

President, CAT