CPI-M State secretariat member, Ch Baburao, on Monday blamed the officials of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation for collecting taxes from the people. He alleged that the officials who were expected to be in the midst of the people helping them from the present crisis of floods, were now busy collecting taxes.
Baburao said that Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Dr P Narayana was touring the city and telling the flood victims that the government would help them. He is promising all support from the government to all the victims, the CPI-M leader said.
He said that the Municipal Commissioner had issued a notice to the people asking them to pay this half-year property tax, water tax, drainage tax and vacant land tax by September 30. This would give relief for them from the penalty, he said.
Baburao further alleged that the officials are working even on holidays and collecting taxes from 8 am to 8 pm every day. They are getting ready to impose penalty on those who fail to pay their taxes by the end of this month, he alleged.
He said that people of the city have suffered heavily due to floods. They have lost everything in the floods, he said. People have lost their essentials, food and other things in the floods, he said. The officials were expected to help the victims, but were not helping them, he said.
The CPI-M leader asked the civic officials to stop collecting the taxes for the present half year. He wanted the civic officials to waive all taxes, particularly in the flood-hit areas. He blamed the ruling party corporators for neglecting the flood-hit areas. He wanted the officials and corporators to help the people and stop collecting taxes.
