The impasse over Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation not getting revenue from Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) is likely to be resolved with a decision in favour of the civic body. The Notified Area Committee has decided to depute a special officer to assess the quantum to be paid to GVMC.
The private port has been declared a notified area and no taxes are being paid to GVMC. At the meeting of NAC at Hyderabad on Thursday, Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu made a presentation on the services being provided to GPL and the taxes it had to pay. NAC members- Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development and the Director of Municipal Administration- responded positively. GPL CMD D.V.S. Raju expressed readiness to pay the 30 per cent of the payment being made to NAC to GVMC.
However, NAC has decided to depute a retired senior official of MAUD as special officer to make a total analysis and decide the quantum of property tax, vacant land tax and other taxes to be paid to GVMC.
With the GVMC facing paucity of funds for its projects under JNNURM and the subsequent increase in property tax, Gangavaram port not paying taxes to GVMC always attracted scathing opposition criticism.
Proposals on payment of taxes by GPL had been sent by the then Commissioner V.N. Vishnu. The corporation has sought denotification of the port enabling collection of 100 per cent of all the taxes.