Journalism of Courage
To improve its finances, the Pune Municipal Corporation that had hiked property tax is likely to increase charges levied on dais/ stage and box stands, besides advertisements erected on public roads. Social functions and political rallies would be charged higher but religious festivals have been exempted.
The civic administration, in a proposal tabled in the standing committee said that they had not increased charges for setting up pandals, stage and box stands, and for advertisements on public roads in the last 10 years.
Organisers set up pandals, stage and box stands on roads and footpaths and damage them. They also cause accidents. Pune Municipal Corporation had been charging Rs 25 for each hole dug, from deposit collected while granting permission. They said it needs to be at least Rs 250.
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The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration said a pandal or stage erected for a general programme would be charged normal rates and if the purpose is commercial, the charges need to be increased. Permission for an event will not be given for more than 15 days.
The PMC administration will collect Rs 2,000 (security) and Rs 5,000 for a pandal or stage of 100 sq ft erected for a street corner meeting.
A rally at a major junction with a 100-sq-ft pandal or stage would be charged Rs 10,000, and a security deposit of Rs 5,000.
PMC would not levy any charges for organising religious functions but will collect a security deposit of Rs 1,000.
For other functions PMC proposes that security deposit be hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 for a pandal or stage 100 sq ft in area, and charge for organising the event from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000.
If the pandal or stage is bigger, security deposit will increase by Rs 1,000 per additional 100 sq ft. It proposes an increase in deposits on the box stand from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 and a hike in charges from Rs 100 to Rs 500 per stand.
“Elected representatives of the ruling NCP, along with opposition BJP increased property tax by 10 per cent against the proposed 18 per cent proposed by the civic administration after realising that the civic body might face a problem if LBT is abolished by the state government. Now they have to take a decision to increase charges on pandals, stages and box stands to help the civic administration increase revenue,” said a civic officer.
If the proposal is rejected, a wrong message would be sent against political parties that had allowed an increase in property tax, he added.
