Rollback follows shutdown spree - Darjeeling Civic body succumbs to Morcha pressure

Darjeeling, April 9: The Darjeeling municipality has decided to roll back water taxes with immediate effect following the closure of the subdivisional offices in the hills by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The municipality had increased its annual water tax from Rs 380 to Rs 1,000 for a domestic connection and from Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000 for a commercial supply. One can get a domestic connection for a one-time fee of Rs 17,000, while those who want a commercial supply have to pay Rs 50,000.

The Morcha, while announcing the shut down of the subdivisional offices in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, had said the party was against the levying of high taxes in the hills. Even though the Morcha had not specified what it meant by “high taxes”, it was presumed that it was against the increase in water tax by the Darjeeling municipality as this was the only tax increased by the SDO.

In the three hill subdivisions, the SDOs are currently heading the civic bodies.

Amalkanti Ray, the subdivisional officer of Darjeeling and the chairperson of the civic body, said: “We decided in the Darjeeling municipality’s board meeting today that we will roll back the water tax to the previous rate. The decision was taken following representations by the hotel owners’ association and also by some local people.”

The municipality also decided to stop the special tatkal scheme in which instant connections were provided against a certain fee. “We are no longer in a position to issue new connections through tatkal scheme,” said Ray.

According to the tatkal scheme, one can get instant connections for Rs 35,000 for domestic and Rs 75,000 for a commercial line.

“In fact, in today’s meeting we have decided not to increase any taxes for the time being,” said Ray. The municipality levies tax for mutation of building and house tax among others.

Following the rollback, the Morcha is likely to withdraw its call for the shut down of the subdivisional offices. The subdivisional offices issues important documents like Gorkha certificate (needed for recruitment in the armed forces), caste certificate and affidavits, besides playing a major role during the census.

Asked whether the Morcha will withdraw its strike following the tax roll back, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: “I have just heard about it. We will discuss with our party president and then decide.”

Source: The Telegraph