Statesman News Service
MALDA, Feb 26: The Congress, BJP and Trinamul Congress led English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) has not yet decided whether to implement the recent government order for collection of one per cent tax (cess) on the total estimated cost of a building which will be more than Rs. 10 lakh. The government has ordered to collect one per cent tax for the contribution to the welfare fund for labourers engaged in building construction sector. The joint secretary, municipal affairs has already directed the civic bodies to execute the order in January. The order said the civic body would collect one per cent on estimated cost before passing its permission order.Mr Narendranath Tiwari, chairman of the EBM, said: “We are bound to carry out the government’s order but we are facing difficulties to estimate the actual cost of the building based on the higher rate of specification sent by the municipal affairs department. The matter would be tabled before the board of councillors’ meeting on 27 February to get opinion of all councillors.“We have already sought clarification from the joint secretary regarding the municipality's own fees which is charge for the approval of building plan”, Mr Tiwari said.The Trinamul leader and councillor of the EBM, Mr Dulal Sarkar, also in-charge of the PWD section, said: “According to the recent government order plan approval charge would be higher than the earlier rate. We will have to take fees at least Rs. 70, 000 for approval of building plan which is at present Rs. 1,100 only. “We do not know how people will cooperate with us if they have to pay such a high rate”, Mr Sarkar said.Sources said, politically the board is not interested in implementing the government’s order at present because they would be unpopular among the people. One the other hand, the LF councillors are not willing to comment against the government but are also mum about the fate of the government order in execution. According to the guideline of the government order, the estimated cost of the general floor has been estimated Rs. 421.44 per sq feet. Mosaic floor Rs. 500.92 per sq feet, and for marvel floor the estimated cost is 58-2.25 per sq feet. This rate is fixed for civic bodies out side Kolkata. “We will think of it in the new financial year”, said Mr Narendranath Tiwari.
Show cause notice
The English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) chief has finally decided to issue a show cause notice to a dealing assistant on the issue of financial irregularities in utensil purchase for midday meal scheme. The chairman of the EBM Mr Narendranath Tiwari has taken such decision following an inquiry report of the district magistrate where the dealing assistance Mr Shyamal Ghosh has been accused of financial irregularities. Following complaint lodged by the Opposition councillors belonging to the CPI-M the district magistrate had assigned Mr Subho Mukherjee, a senior deputy magistrate, to inquire about the matter. Recently the administration has sent the inquiry report to the civic body chief and asked him what action was taken against the dealing assistant for financial irregularities. It may be noted that when the Opposition leaders had brought the matter to the Press and the administration. The civic body chief Mr Tiwari had also issued an order for internal inquiry. “The rate of utensils was abnormally high in quotation submitted by the traders in comparison with the market price. Though the department had bought the utensils, no payments were made to the traders”, said Mr Tiwari. “I would not suspend him right now but will issue a show cause notice initially”, Mr Tiwari said. “One dealing assistant was held responsible for this financial irregularity. We have asked the civic body chairman to find out what action has been taken against the dealing assistant. The civic body will not be able to make any financial transaction regarding purchase of utensils for midday meal until further order”, said Mr P C Shit, the additional district magistrate (general).The Opposition will raise the issue on the board of councillors’ meeting to he held on 27 February. The civic body bought utensils amounting to Rs. 2.91 lakh. The Opposition would ask: “How did the chairman of the board approve the quotation?”
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