Recover dues before raising taxes Gadkari tells NMC

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has a glorious history, and its 75th year should be marked with meaningful initiatives, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. He suggested that 75 playgrounds be developed during the civic body's 75th year, adding that several works can be undertaken which don't require substantial funds.

Referring to the upcoming civic budget, Gadkari said he would offer suggestions when the new standing committee chairperson prepares it. He advised the administration not to increase property tax at present. "If you must raise taxes, first recover pending dues from defaulters," he said, cautioning that tax hikes burden honest taxpayers while habitual defaulters often go untouched. The outstanding property tax and water bills together touched over Rs1,200 crore.


Gadkari was speaking at the felicitation ceremony of former mayors and deputy mayors organised at the NMC headquarters to mark its Amrit Mahotsav foundation year. Present on the dais were mayor Neeta Thakre, deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, leader of the House Balya Borkar, opposition leader Sanjay Mahakalkar, MLAs Pravin Datke, Krishna Khopde, Mohan Mate, Vikas Thakre and Sandeep Joshi, along with municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, additional commissioners Vasumana Pant and Vaishnavi B.

Former mayors including Kunda Vijaykar, Dayashankar Tiwari, Vasundhara Masurkar, Pandurang Hivarkar, Archana Dehankar, Anil Sole, Nanda Jichkar, Rajesh Tambe and Kishor Dorle, along with former deputy mayors, were felicitated by Gadkari. Family members of deceased former mayors and deputy mayors were also present on the ocassion.

Gadkari said all former office-bearers contributed to the city's development and urged the new leadership to make NMC a model civic body in the country by ensuring better public services. Calling the corporator's role the "most difficult", he said that while becoming an MLA, MP or minister may be easier, corporators face citizens' demands from early morning every day, often without adequate funds. Even when funds are sanctioned, procedural delays by officials create hurdles, he noted.

MLA Vikas Thakre urged corporators and office-bearers to safeguard their rights and act firmly against corrupt officials. Mayor Neeta Thakre assured that the advice would be implemented and warned officials accordingly. Former mayor Dayashankar Tiwari highlighted developmental works undertaken during his tenure.