The State’s Municipal Affairs department on Wednesday welcomed the proposal of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to give tax concession to residential buildings painted in blue and white with Minister Firhad Hakim stating that the government wants to make Kolkata a “blue city”.
The Minister said that blue is a “soothing colour” and according to psychiatrists a colour which is “anti- depression” in nature. Speaking to journalists in the State Assembly he went on to say how people are attracted to the blue sea and admire the blue colour of the sky.
Mr. Hakim not only welcomed the KMC proposal but urged all other municipalities in the State to tread on the same path and come up with similar tax incentives.
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“I will ask all the municipalities to follow the path shown by the KMC,” the Minister told journalists at the press conference. Mr Hakim pointed out that the tax rebate proposed by the city’s civic body is an “encouragement” given to the people and there will be no adverse economic implications on the KMC’s budget.
“We do not know whether giving tax burden would require any amendment in the KMC Act but if it is required we will do so,” Mr Hakim said. Though he said that the decision has “nothing to do with politics” Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra took a swipe at the Trinamool Congress leadership said that those painting the city blue and white should paint their clothes blue and white.
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Earlier in the day Mr. Hakim announced in the House that the West Bengal government is in the process of setting up 22 new municipalities in the State. He said that the decision is to decentralise administration through local bodies and ensure development of these areas.
The new municipalities will come up at Tehatta, Chanchal, Canning, Falakata, Kakdwip, Belda, Khatra, Gaajol, Buniyadpur, Bally West, Andul, Domzur, Bagnan, Bakshirhat, Thakurnagar, Amta, Kolaghat—Mecheda, Amtala, Domkol, Tarapith and Mollarpur, Mr. Hakim said.
In addition to this, discussion is currently going on to set up the 22nd municipality at Mainaguri. The Minister also informed the House of the State government’s decision to have four new municipal corporations in the districts of North and South 24 Parganas. On May 26, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after a cabinet meeting had referred to the creation of four new municipal corporations