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BMC to tax phone, power companies
BHOPAL MUNICIPAL Corporation (BMC) council today decided to impose fee on waves and signals of telephone and power companies. Under the purview of the bazaar fee such companies would have to give one per cent of their total earnings to the BMC. Besides, the BMC council also approved annual tax on ATMs and export tax on some new items.
BHOPAL MUNICIPAL Corporation (BMC) council today decided to impose fee on waves and signals of telephone and power companies. Under the purview of the bazaar fee such companies would have to give one per cent of their total earnings to the BMC. Besides, the BMC council also approved annual tax on ATMs and export tax on some new items.
In a five-hour long meeting, the 66-member BMC council took several important decisions. After recent amendments in the Municipal Corporation Act, waves and signals, which are used by telephone and power companies, were brought under the purview of bazaar fee. The BMC is expected to earn an amount of Rs four crore per year from this fee.
Amidst opposition from some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators, the BMC council also amended the proposal to impose export tax on seven new items. According to the amended proposal, four out of these seven items were excluded from this list. The export tax is imposed only on three items including cigarette, bidi and copper.
The BMC council also proposed amendment in the Municipal Corporation Act to end exemption of property tax to educational institutions. This proposal would be sent to the State Government for further approval.
ATM machines installed by banks have also come under the purview of tax net with BMC council approving a proposal of imposing commercial tax of Rs 12,000 per year per ATM counter effective from April 1. Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has already imposed this tax from last year.
BMC council, however, decided the loan for Kolar Augmentation Scheme should not be stopped. The BMC administration proposed no further loan should be taken for this scheme. BMC chairman directed to put forward this proposal in the next meeting.
Due to the opposition of BJP corporators, who are in majority, the BMC council also cancelled two proposals regarding realisation of taxes through private contractors. The BMC had proposed realisation of taxes for glow signboard and licence fee through the private contractors.
The BMC council also approved proposals including imposition of taxes on hostels, allotment of shops situated at different places, allotment of open ground adjoining Yadgar-e-Shahejahani Park for private functions, re-approval of Transport Nagar in its original shape etc.
The BMC chairman also ordered to form a committee for amending the by-laws prepared for the hostels. The BMC council rejected the proposal for imposing fines on persons for throwing garbage or papers at the public places due to opposition from BJP corporators.
