Villagers against Gazole tax system

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 10: The CPI-M led Gazole gram panchayat has finally decided not to collect panchayat tax from January this year following public protest and considering forthcoming panchayat elections.Gazole gram panchayat had made a public announcement to pay taxes based on the system adopted by the centre as well as state government.It was stated in the announcement that residents would have to pay 2 per cent taxes on 6 per cent of total valuation of land and its building. The residents will have to pay this panchayat tax every year as per the system.After announcement, local citizen committee called Gazole Nagarik Unnayan Committee (GNUC) submitted a deputation to the Gazole Block development officer on 4 March in protest against the decision of the gram panchayat.The leaders of the GNUC, Mr Mujibuddin Ahmed, Mr Ranjit Ghosh, Mr Banshi Mohan Singh Sardar and others today submitted a deputation to the Gazole panchayat pradhan in protest against the decision to collect taxes from people.It may be noted that Gazole BDO had sought clarification from the Gazole panchayat pradhan Mrs Krishna Mudi and asked the panchayat on what basis they had planned to collect the tax from residents.Finally the Mrs Mudi assured the GNUC members that the panchayat would not collect such tax and the decision would be intimated to the public through an announcement.The GNUC members claimed that the present panchayat tax had hiked the rate of tax. Besides Gazole gram panchayat, no other gram panchayat took such decision to collect a 2 per cent tax on 6 per cent of the total valuation of land and property.