TURA, April 6: The Tura Municipal Board (TMB) has served a tax payment notice to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), apparently during the just completed budget session, drawing criticism from Tura MDC Bernard Marak who has now sought the removal of the Municipality from within Tura. The BJP MDC also demanded the revival of town committees to look into development of the area.
“We were shocked that the TMB has served the GHADC a property tax notice when the TMB itself is the tenant of the GHADC. The Municipality, which is functioning in a Sixth Schedule area, has sent a notice to GHADC seeking property tax which is absurd,” Bernard said, questioning how a tenant (TMB) could actually ask for tax from the owner (GHADC).
The BJP MDC felt the Municipality was overlapping the power of the GHADC in the town areas and said it was not right for the TMB to tax the tribals in a Sixth Schedule area.
“This is against Article 243, which does not allow Municipality to function within a Sixth Schedule area. They have no right to ask taxes from the GHADC. I feel it’s high time that the Municipality is removed and town committees are revived,” he added.
Bernard also stated that he would file a petition in the Meghalaya High Court seeking to extend the exercise of forming town committees under KHADC in Shillong, into the municipal areas of Garo Hills as well.
“The High Court has ordered formation of town committees in Shillong and we want this to be extended to Tura as well. People have been suffering from double taxation from the TMB and the GHADC. When we have land pattas issued by the GHADC why should we be paying taxes to the TMB? Moreover trade licenses have to be given by the Council and not TMB,” the BJP MDC said.