Category: Municipal Corporations

Do-able Goals for Mumbai for 2016

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Resolutions were for yesterday, today let’s get ticking on a checklist to mend MumbaiCapture
The year got off to a great start with the Chief Minister of Delhi quoting John Lennon’s “Imagine“. That song spurred a revolution across the world, with the words You may think I am a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. Of course the Delhi CM was promoting his dream of using the oddeven rule to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. But an injection of poetry into politics is a good beginning for the New Year.Here are some simple ideas, almost poetic in their impact. Ok, not poetic per se, but such is their impact that people may break into spontaneous shayari, praising the government. These are implementable within a one-year time frame. The examples are specific to Mumbai, but surely there is similarly low hanging fruit for other cities too.

  1. Convert all STD kiosks into public WiFi hotspots
  2. Convert Trash to electricity
  3. Unclog Bandra and Ghatkopar Stations
  4. Instal Escalators at all major railway stations

All of them are do-able within a reasonable cost and within less than a year.

Do we have the will?

 

Click Here for the full detailed story by Ajit Ranade in Mumbai Mirror

Join The ‘Save Our Spaces’ (SOS) Campaign

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Call 20 councillors and share their response below…

JOIN THE ‘SAVE OUR SPACES’ CAMPAIGN | MAKE A CALL TO OVER 5 MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS TODAY AND REPORT IT HERE!
You can stop the ‘Kidnapping Policy’ which is being called ‘Adoption Policy’

The BMC intends to have a policy to give legal rights and possession to private parties on our Open spaces which are owned by us. At a conservative value of Rs. 20,000 per acre it means giving away our land worth over 20,000 crores. In our country possession is de facto ownership. There are many instances in the past where these methods have led to private bodies usurping our Open Spaces on the pretext that they will adopt or take care of our grounds.

We can stop this corruption. Call up more than 5 corporators and argue with them that they should oppose this loot. Get their responses and report them with your name on this website.

On this site, you will find contact details of municipal councillors in the city at http://satyamevajayate.info/sos. Call them and ask them what their views and plans related to the new policy are. Let’s share their response (or silence) publicly, as I have done on this site here: http://satyamevajayate.info/volunteer-efforts-report

This is your chance to help promote transparency and accountability and make your voice heard!

Here are some things that you can say/ask when you call your councillor and other councillors and party leaders:

– I’d like to know whether you support the move to allow corporations, NGOs and other groups to adopt open spaces.

– What are your reasons for this?

-The total amount required to maintain these open spaces is less than 200 crores annually. The BMC’s annual budget is 400 crores and less than 200 crores are spent.

-If BMC wants citizen participation ALMs, NGOs and corporates can be given the role of monitoring and auditing the grounds. Their report should be submitted each month and deficiencies corrected and penalties imposed on the defaulting contractors.

– Our elected representatives have no right to create third party rights to private bodies.
1000+ acres worth around 20,000 crores are at stake. Do participate in this campaign and report before December 30, 2015.

If the councillors go against our interests in this matter we will take this citizen campaign in the next BMC election and campaign to defeat those who give our Open Spaces away for free.

You can read more about this issue here:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/news/an-sos-for-the-citys-ope…

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-vested-interests-run-amok-2148198

https://orfmumbai.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/open-spaces-for-a-greener-and…

http://blogs.rediff.com/thebravepedestrian/2011/08/01/mumbai-citizens-se…

For any questions, please mail me at shaileshgan@gmail.com.

Regards,

Shailesh Gandhi
Former Central Information Commissioner

Dear friends,
The following is the video clip on protection of open spaces by Shailesh Gandhi :–

MCGM Circular – Policy for granting permissions to erect Pandals on footpaths and roads

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Dear friends,
I am attaching the BMC Commissioner’s Circular listing out conditions for granting permissions to erect Pandals etc. for Ganesh Utsav, Dahi Handi etc. celebrations on our roads, footpaths and other open spaces.

If you feel they are unreasonable and would cause noise and inconvenience to residents, pedestrians and motorists, then do send your objections to the Mun. Comm. as soon as possible.

Regards.

G R Vora

BMC Commr’s Circular – Policy to grant permission for erection of temporary structures for Ganesh & other festivals after the HC Order – 24.7.2015

Pune Municipal Corporation not to penalize Citizens for lapses of Builders

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Pune Municipal Corporation has given relief to flat owners who are paying 3 times property tax because their builders failed to obtain Completion Certificates for their buildings. They have proposed a special scheme which will allow the flat owners to complete the necessary formalities, after which they will be exempted from penalty.

Click Here for the Times of India report.

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31814&articlexml=Flat-owners-may-not-be-fined-for-builders-18112014005038

Times of India 18Nov14

Your Right to Service

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The Right To Services* Act, whose official title is the ‘Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005’, was one of the demands (along with the Right to Information Act) raised by crusader Anna Hazare during his anti-corruption campaign.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of activists, an Ordinance was issued on August 29, 2003. It became an Act on 12 May, 2005 and came into effect on 1 July, 2006. Further, the Rules for the Act were framed on November 14, 2013.

Your Right to Service

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the difference between the RTS* and the RTI Acts?
  • What is a Citizens’ Charter?
  • What are the key features of the RTS Act?

Learn more

 

Know your Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC / MCGM)

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An interesting set of questions and answers including the following :

  • What is the procedure for obtaining a certified copy of the building plan?
  • What is the procedure for enclosure of Balcony?
  • What is the procedure for filing an appeal for reducing the rateable value of the property?
  • Can a member covers the parking stilt?
  • What should a Flat holder do if the shop keeper on the ground floor is causing nuisance?
  • What should a Flat holder do if there is leakage from the upper flat?

Click Here to read the entire list – excellent for lay persons who want quick and accurate answers

Mumbai: Property Tax – 1000 Cr Loss to BMC

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The BMC has failed and neglected to collect Rs.1000cr. plus amount in property tax. In this connection Watchdog Foundation has written letters to:
1) Comptroller Auditor General of India- to investigate loss to BMC on account of non levy of property tax on slum dwellers dispite signing agreement in 2006 between BMC, State Government and Government of India.
( PLEASE SEE THE REPLY RECEIVED FROM CAG DATED 25TH JULY 2013DIRECTING THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT GENERAL MAHARASHTRA TO EXAMINE THE MATTER AND SUBMIT REPORT TO CAG.)
2) Mission Director, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission- to discontinue grant to BMC for their failure to introduce mandatory property tax reforms as agreed in the aforesaid agreement signed in 2006.
3) Municipal Commissioner, BMC, Municipal Chief Auditior, Assessor and Collector and others for loss of revenue to BMC.
4) We have also filed RTI applications with aforesaid authorities seeking details of the action taken by them.
It is relevant to state that the Municipal Corporations of Delhi,Chennai, Banglore, Kolkatta, etc. are charging property tax to the slums / jhuggis / zopadis then why BMC dispite signing agreement in 2006 is not collecting property tax. This amounts to deliberate and intentional ommission on the part of MC and others of BMC to recover the said property tax. As such we demand that thisloss occuring to BMC due to the neglect of MC and others should be recovered from their salaries.
The BMC has threatned to recover the property tax that is due with 24% p.a. interest from tax payers. Our question to BMC is that they should first recover
a) Rs.143 Cr. from railways, which it has not paid in taxes for last 15 years
b) Similar or more amount is also to be recovered from State Government
c) The builders owe Rs.628 Cr. out of which only Rs.8 Cr. has been paid. As such is the BMC going to recover Rs.620 Cr. with 24% interest from the builders (seeattached news report).
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS AMONGST YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND TAXPAYERS TO CREATE MASS AWARENESS.
regards
For Watchdog Foundation
Nicholas Almeida/Godfrey Pimenta (gpimenta@rediffmail.com)

sfz62@yahoo.co.in

 

RTI_Reply-Comptroller

The Latest Municipal Policy On Property Taxes

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The Latest Municipal Policy On Property Taxes
By CA, Vimal Punmiya

Highlights:

1. New System of Property Taxes will be applicable with effect from 01.04.2010. in the present system, the property tax is based on Rateable Value fixed at the time when the building receives its occupation certificate and the same does not changes till the building is redeveloped and/or is given on Rent. But however, the percent of Property Tax goes up and as a result the rate of Property Taxes varies from 58% to 315%.

2. There is different rates chargeable to Non-Agricultural Land, Building under construction and Building ready for occupation (such as Flats, Office, industrial Galas, Godowns, shops, etc.) depending on the market value of property as per Ready Reckoner of Stamp Duty published by the Government of Maharashtra.

3. Once the Property Tax is fixed for a property, the same would be applicable for the next 5 years from the date of application.

4. If the Property tax as per the new system is much higher than the Property tax as per the old system, then the Society or the owner would have the option to write to the Municipal Corporation. The same cannot be more than double in the case of the Residential Property and three times in the case of a commercial property. The increase in the Property Tax after 5 years from the date of application cannot be more than 40% for the next 5 yrs. The same would not be applicable in the case of New Building.

5. The same rate of property tax would be applicable whether the property is self-occupied or given to others on the basis of Tenancy, leave and license, lease, caretaker, Business centre, etc in the present system. The same is approved by the Assembly and will be incorporated in the New System. The Officers of BMC have so much of powers that in the case of a let-out property, the Property tax can vary from 35% to 60%. In Pune, Kolkatta, Delhi, the Property tax is double of the normal property tax if the property is given on Tenancy, leave and license, etc.

6. Concessional rates will be applicable to Charitable Organizations such as School, Hospitals, Temples, etc.). In the case Government Offices for Central as well as State, Foreign Embassies, etc no property tax.

7. the property tax will not be on concessional basis in the case of a new building. However, the old building would enjoy a rebate from 5% to 75% depending on the age of the Building. But the after rebate value cannot be less than the value of the land plus the construction cost.

8. The New system of property tax is transparent and even the property owner can calculate the property tax payable by referring to the Stamp Duty Ready Reckoner. Hence, there would be less corruption.

9. As per the New System, the rates of property tax would be reduced in the Suburbs and increased in South Mumbai depending on the age of the building, floor, type of construction, etc payable on the Market Value of the property calculated as per Stamp Duty Ready Reckoner.

10. If the area of the Residential property is less than 500 sq. ft. (carpet area) then there would be no increase in the Property tax payable. Hence, the New System of property tax would not affect 70% of the Mumbaikars for atleast 5 yrs from the date of application.

11. If the property is lying vacant (i.e. if it is not in use) then the property owner can apply to the BMC and the property tax will be 40% for the normal property tax payable.

12. Further, the Property tax would be payable on the Built-up area of the property.

13. There are chances of error in Data collected by MCGM about the age of building, user type(residential, shop, office, etc.), carpet and built-up area of the premises, etc. in this event, society or property owner can file the complaint /objection with MCGM in prescribed format.

14. The complaint has to be filled with respective Municipal Ward office, with the assessment department. The complaint has to be filed within 21 Days of receipt of the property tax Bill. If you file complaint after 21 days, please file the same with request for condonation of delay.

15. Format for complaint is already sent by MCGM along with the new property tax Bills. Pro-forma is attached herewith.

For more details please contact on Helpline 1278 / 022 23670624 or mail to : lodhafoundation@yahoo.com 

Click Here for more details

Click Here for sample complaint format
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Courtesy : J.B.Patel (Jeby) Mobile:9820538570
MAHARASHTRA CHS RTI UNION

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Nagesh Kini, Moneylife Foundation