Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is keen to extend its assistance to local denizens in paying or assessing their respective holding taxes, applying for new trade licenses and food licenses.
The BMC aims to facilitate people so that they can avail the services under one roof and in a hassle-free manner. The civic body announced Thursday to organise a license and holding tax ‘Mela’ for residents of Bhubaneswar from February 27 that will continue till March 28.
According to sources, the proposed month-long event will be held at selected places across Bhubaneswar. Queries as well as confusions in regard to the services will be cleared in the ‘Mela’.
Also read: Odisha traders extend support to CAIT call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ February 26
BMC has decided to catch hold of 804 big defaulters who have not paid their holding taxes for over a year. The total outstanding tax within BMC limits is over Rs 43 crore, an official expressed.
The tax is being calculated at the rate of 17.5 percent of the annual value of the building taking into account 0.5 percent of the benchmark value of the property as of April 1, 2019, the BMC official added.
Notably, the civic body has engaged TG Swikruti self-help group (SHG) for door to door collection of holding tax from big defaulters. Third-gender members of the SHG will visit the houses where holding tax outstandings have exceeded Rs 25,000.
“We urge anyone who has doubts or queries regarding holding tax payment or assessment, and those who wish to apply for new trade license and food license should visit this ‘Mela’ in large numbers to avail the services at one place in a quick and hassle-free way. It is a unique initiative, hence property owners should clear deposit their holding tax at the mela ,” said Srimanta Mishra, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), BMC.
Area-wise details of the ‘Mela’
The ‘Mela’ will be held at VSS Nagar Kalyan Mandap for Ward Numbers 4, 5, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20 to be held February 27 and 28. For Ward Numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 21 and for Ward Numbers 12, 13, 14, 26 the ‘Mela’ will be held at Chandrasekharpur Kalyan Mandap and Niladri Vihar Ward Office respectively from February 5 to 7 and February 12 to 14.
The ‘Mela’ will be held at Day Care Centre Rental Colony for Ward Numbers 15, 22, 24, 25, 27, 37, 38, 39 February 27 and 28. For Ward Numbers 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 62 and for Ward Numbers 23, 49, 63, 64, 65, 66 it will be held at Community Centre Unit-VIII and Day Care Centre Aiginia respectively from February 5 to 7 and February 12 to 14.
The ‘Mela’ will be held at Saheed Nagar Kalyan Mandap for Ward Numbers 28, 29, 30, 34, 35 from February 27 to 28. For Ward Numbers 31, 32, 33, 34, 42, 43 and Ward Numbers 44, 45, 55, 56, 57, 58 it will be held at BMC Jatri Niwas and Badagada Kalyan Mandap respectively from February 5 to 7 and from March 12 to 14.
The Mela will be held at Dakshinchandi Kalyan Mandap including the Office at Ward 36 near Kar Clinic for Ward Numbers 54, 59, 60, 61, 67 and Ward Numbers 36, 40, 41, 53 respectively from March 19 to 21 and from March 26 to 28.
PNN