Members of the Vellore Corporation District Congress Committee on Tuesday staged a demonstration against the Corporation for increasing various taxes, and charges for issuing birth and death certificates.
About 200 members of the party led by B. Teekaraman, district president, Vellore Corporation District Congress Committee staged the agitation near the Vellore Corporation office. They demanded that the local body withdraw the “manifold” increase in taxes and charges for services, and take up maintenance of roads and street lights.
Recent cost hike
“The Corporation had recently increased property tax, water tax and garbage tax. Birth and death certificates that were issued at ₹50 earlier now cost ₹200. This manifold increase will be a burden on the public,” Mr. Teekaraman said.
He added that garbage was accumulating on several streets in the Corporation. “They are not removing the garbage from the streets but are levying garbage tax. Accumulation of waste is posing health hazards for residents. In addition, the Corporation has brought in water metering system and has planned to charge for excess use. This is unacceptable,” he added. The cadre also demanded that the local body take up proper maintenance of roads, street lights and public toilets.
“If the Corporation does not act on our demands within 10 days, we will stage protests by gathering the public from the 60 wards,” he said.
