GUWAHATI, Aug 8 - Fifty per cent of the property tax people are paying to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) would return back to the people of every ward for the improvement of civic facilities like drainage, street lights, security arrangements, etc., from October this year.
The Guwahati Development Department Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced some major structural changes in the management of civic affairs of the city, involving community participation. Under the arrangements 60 ward committees would be constituted in each ward of the city, consisting of conscious citizens, members of the unnayan samity and other apolitical persons.
Out of the total Rs 12.11 crore property tax collection from Guwahati, the government would return 50 per cent to the ward development committees for carrying out developmental works like appointing at least ten sweepers in every ward, cleaning the internal drains, replacing fused street lights, and appointing security guards in the wards among others.
The GDD Minister termed the mechanism as 'people's money in people's hands', where the corporation would play a supervisory role with the GMC Commissioner having monthly interactions with all the ward development committees.
"From October 1, the ad hoc committees would carry out the work for the first six months, after which the committees would be duly elected by the people of every ward. Preferably, a retired or working government official would head the committee for smooth functioning of developmental activities," Sarma said.
The committees, in turn, would help the GMC in tax collection as only 60 per cent people of the city are paying their taxes as per GMC estimation.
"There are some wards like ward number 33, 29 etc., which produce enough tax-money for smooth conduct of civic works to be entrusted upon the committees. The corporation would provide an aid of Rs 1 lakh to wards like Gariagaon, where tax collection is less than Rs 2 lakh," he said. The GMC workers would carry out their usual work of garbage collection, sweeping, etc., without delegating it to the ward committees.
However, disbursing half of the property tax would cost the GMC 80 per cent of its revenue that would be supplemented by the State government through grant-in-aids. The GDD is also in touch with the State Home Department for lifting the parking fees from Guwahati.
The GDD has also decided to lift the system of giving the GMC markets on lease to private parties. Instead, the market committees would be entrusted with the responsibilities of collecting tax and maintaining cleanliness in the markets. The Kachari Bazar Unnayan Samity has welcomed this decision of the State government.
Riverfront development: The work for clearing the riverfronts of the city would start from November this year as the Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (Metro) bungalow would be vacated by November 1. On the other hand, by January 1 the DGP bungalow and other four big bungalows would be vacated to create open space for public.
The GDD Minister also said that barring the heritage structures on the riverfronts, other structures would be removed from riverfronts. The DC's bungalow and surrounding area would be converted into an Internet and gaming zone and park. The Rs 1000-crore water supply scheme, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for Guwahati and North Guwahati would also start from mid-November, the GDD minister added. Additional pipelines would be provided in some parts of Khanapara and Noonmati Refinery area, which are not covered in the main scheme.
