E-Paper
Tehbazari move to hit GMC
THE DECISION of the State Government to abolish the tehbazari system has affected the major source of income for the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation. Besides, vendors can be removed from the corporation land and this may affect their livelihood, too.
THE DECISION of the State Government to abolish the tehbazari system has affected the major source of income for the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation. Besides, vendors can be removed from the corporation land and this may affect their livelihood, too.
The corporation will suffer a loss of Rs 1 crore per month due to abolition of tehbazari system. The prospect has added to the woes of the corporation officials.
As it is, the corporation is already struggling to cope with increasing civic demands due to paucity of funds.
Meanwhile, contractors who have the contract of tax collection of some markets are still realising taxes. Their action can lead to a law and order problem.
Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Amar Kumar Verma issued an order on June 14 to all divisional commissioners and municipal commissioners, directing them to abolish tehbazari system with immediate effect.
Municipal commissioner Anand Vardhan admitted abolition of tehbazari system would adversely affect the economic health of the corporation and said it was decision of the cabinet which they had to implement.
The corporation was collecting Rs 2.50 lakh from Surajkund Sabzi Mandi, Rs 12 lakh from Bhedia Bazar Sabzi Mandi, Rs 1 lakh from Beniganj, Rs 1 lakh from Gorakhnath, Rs 1 lakh from Engineering College, Rs 11 lakh from Betiahata, Rs 5 lakh from Rustampur, Rs 6 lakh from Aam Bazar, Rs 1.25 lakh from Nausarh and Rs 5 lakh from Thawaipul fish mandi.
Sources said the government was also planning to sell the nagar nigam shops to its tenants, which generated speculations among employees of the department.
They said abolition of tehbazari tax would cast a shadow on the development work carried out by the corporation. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Gopi Krishna Srivastav said the corporation would have the power to displace the vegetable sellers and other vendors who set up shops on municipal corporation land.
Some alleged that the decision was taken to benefit mainstream traders.
