Don’t levy tax on RWAs, find amicable solution
Open House: What steps should mc take for the maintenance of parks in city?
TDS on receipts illogical
TDS deduction on receipts of reimbursement of expenditure incurred by welfare societies on maintenance of neighborhood parks is totally illogical and unjustified. There was no such condition in the MOU signed by various RWAs with the MC. The UT Administration must intervene in the matter and resolve the issue by withdrawing the TDS instructions issued by the MC to RWAs so that city parks be maintained in a way they are being done at present. Withdrawal by RWAs will lead to poor upkeep of parks, which will ultimately affect residents. The MC must either withdraw its instructions or make alternate arrangements to maintain parks by awarding contracts to private players. There must be a solution for this public related issue.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Not a wise move by the civic body
Neighbourhood parks are lifeline of citizens. Parks provide not only fresh air to citizens, but also flora and fauna to reduce their stress level. Residents already pay property tax to the MC. Levying 20% tax on maintenance cost is unjustified and to be condemned. Social and philanthropist organisations should come forward and help the MC in case of shortage of funds for proper maintenance of parks. Rather, the MC should provide more facilities like toilets, drinking water, rainwater shelters, musical foundations and LED light for improving conditions of parks.
Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali
MC’s proposal is unrealistic
Instead of increasing old rates of maintenance, the MC wants RWAs to accept monthly payments after tax deduction as applicable to personal incomes. Since monthly payout by the MC to RWAs are just reimbursements of expenditure incurred on maintenance of parks these cannot be treated as income warranting tax deduction at source. The MC should wake up to reality and withdraw its unrealistic proposal, which might impact greenery of the City Beautiful.
SC Luthra, Chandigarh
Don’t impose tax, collect funds
Chandigarh is famous for its parks maintained by RWAs and the MC. The maintenance cost is increasing day by day. Rather than helping RWAs the MC is planning to impose TDS, which is a bad move. The MC should give full financial support, provide specialised labour and expert opinion for better maintenance of parks in the city. RWAs can collect funds at their level also for this purpose. The MC can impose new tax on all parking lots or administrative work, which will help in generating funds for city parks.
Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh
Residents can’t be deprived of facility
RWAs maintaining parks in the city are asking for more funds, but the MC is not willing to increase the amount. If the MC wants to verify the maintenance cost of parks it can check at its own level whether extra funds should be sanctioned or not. If the issue is not solved then both the parties should sit together and try to resolve it. If no amicable decision is taken, the MC should take over the maintenance of city parks. Residents can’t be deprived of parks at any cost.
MR Bhateja, Nayagaon
Not all contribute for the cause
The maintenance of parks is duty of the Municipal Corporation (MC). RWAs face hardships as not all residents contribute financially for the cause. The MC should not force RWAs for the maintenance of parks. The MC should realise its responsibility and start maintaining all parks in the city.
RK Kapoor, Chandigarh
MC cannot dictate terms to RWAs
The Municipal Corporation must maintain parks under the supervision of representatives of RWAs. Sharing the workload and putting additional restrictions on RWAs is not justified. The MC cannot dictate terms. It is duty of the MC to maintain parks with professional help, which cannot be done by respective RWAs. The condition of various parks in residential areas is deplorable. The MC must ensure regular cutting of grass, looking after plants, flowers and playing equipment of kids.
Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Chandigarh
Reconsider imposition of 20 per cent tax
Where there is a will, there is a way. The MC authorities can easily solve this problem. RWAs have been helping and supporting the MC to maintain neighbourhood parks in the interest of the public. The MC should allocate suitable funds to RWAs according to increase in maintenance cost of parks. Otherwise, the MC should maintain parks. The MC should roll back the condition of PAN and 20% tax on maintenance cost.
Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali
Mandatory to maintain accounts
If the annual amount being paid to respective residents’ welfare associations RWAs by the MC is more than the tax free limits, then filing of the I-T return becomes mandatory. Respective RWAs should not hesitate in getting PAN and maintaining proper accounts. On the other side the MC should also be liberal in raising the maintenance amount of parks, where the actual cost seems to be more than funds sanctioned to RWAs as detailed annual expenses incurred on the maintenance of parks will reflect in I-T returns filed by associations.
Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali
Advertisements can generate funds
If RWAs venture into commercial activities, even if to complement the MC’s efforts, they are bound by laws of the land. It’s moot why these should shirk in getting their PAN. The MC is already managing most neighbourhood parks in residential areas. Refusal to maintain and surrender some parks by RWAs should be no big issue as the MC is already deploying necessary wherewithal for getting similar work done. The MC must not escape from its responsibilities and try to shift the onus on RWAs. It needs to come out with comparative details of payments made to contractors and RWAs for maintaining parks. Residents, especially children and elderly, want good upkeep and facilities in parks. The MC must not be found wanting. Displaying advertisements in parks can earn some funds for the MC.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Hand over maintenance to MC
Maintenance of green belts and parks is responsibility of the MC. If RWAs of different sectors are looking after neighbourhood parks, the MC should cooperate with them by paying required amount for their maintenance rather than putting burden on associations. Due to fiscal crunch amid pandemic, which has hit everyone’s pocket, the MC should take over maintenance of parks.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
There is no harm in having PAN
No doubt, RWAs are helping the MC in various projects. But, as per the new norms of making payments PAN is necessary. RWAs must be registered and have their accounts in bank. What stops them from having PAN? Other option is RWAs can supervise maintenance of parks and MC can pay directly to the agency/contractor concerned for the work done. Also, the MC can maintain parks itself. RWAs and the MC should find an amicable solution to the problem.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
Use money in treasury on parks’ maintenance
In India the government has a lot of wealth in its treasury. All this money is wasted on organising big events or on lavish lifestyle of MLAs, MPs and senior officers. This money should be used for maintaining parks instead of imposing tax on RWAs.
Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh
Don’t press for funds during pandemic
In the present hard times when we are fighting Covid-19 pandemic the economy has also taken a hit. RWAs should not press for more funds for the maintenance of parks. Residents can easily pay for maintenance of parks in their area. When position improves, the MC can be asked to sanction more funds for parks.
Tarlok Singh, Chandigarh
Maintenance cost has gone up
The Municipal Corporation (MC) should revise maintenance charges of neighbourhood parks because prices of plants, salary of gardeners and equipment have increased. Moreover, the MoU was signed between the MC and RWAs in 2013, but there has been no revision of charges since then. Quick and effective steps should be taken by the MC to solve the problem.
Anita Tandon, Kharar
Sit together to sort out matter
RWAs are doing better maintenance of parks allotted to them by the MC. The present system should continue. Both RWAs the MC should sit together and discuss each other’s problems and demands to sort out matter. If required they may ask for mediation by an appropriate authority or any third party with mutual consent. If the MC wants to impose 20% tax, it should be included in rates. Present system is better than earlier as parks are greener and cleaner now.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh
Hire professional horticulturist
RWAs have become political platforms. Moreover, they have no technical or professional competence to maintain neighbourhood parks. The MC should handle the maintenance of parks on its own and charge fee say 1% of the assessed property tax from house owners. The MC should involve FOSWAC and CRAWFED by having their representative as a member of the advisory and maintenance committee. RWAs only make noise. Moreover, parks need to be attended to by professionals and senior horticulture specialists.
Rajiv Boolchan Jain, Zirakpur
Hand back parks to civic body
Parks are the lungs of the city and responsibility of the MC. RWAs are doing social service. It is ironical that instead of appreciating RWAs for volunteering to maintain parks the MC is trying to tax them. The MC should sanction additional amount for maintenance of parks due to steady rise in inflation. The MC is trying to uphold the saying “Social service is a thankless job”. RWAs should hand back parks to the MC for maintenance.
Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali
Give sufficient funds to associations
Parks maintained by RWAs are in good condition. RWAs are accountable to residents. They have proper check on gardeners, ensure maintenance of parks and keep them neat and clean. Therefore, neighbourhood parks should be handed over to RWAs for maintenance. Sufficient funds must be provided to RWAs.
Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (Retd), Chandigarh
Reconsider demands of RWAs
A glance at the functioning of residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) makes it clear that these bodies have voluntarily been sharing the burden of the Municipal Corporation (MC). These associations are in no way doing business of profit and should be exempted from any kind of tax. The MC should also reconsider demand of RWAs to increase maintenance funds keeping in view the inflation.
SP Wadhwa, Chandigarh
Dire need to protect city parks
A big hand for residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) for their pivotal role in maintaining 760 of 1,809 parks dotting the city and offering breathing space for people. The slugfest between RWAs is unwarranted and uncalled for as it might cost the city its most precious preserve. The MC should go into a huddle and come out with a solution to resolve the issue so that parks, the proverbial jewels of the City Beautiful, remain protected at any cost. RWAs should also retract from maintaining a stern stance over the stalemate and resolve the issue amicably.
Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh
Roll back tax proposal
As a matter of fact, the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, is facing a serious financial crunch owing to its poor planning and proposing several measures to fill up its kitty for which one of them is taxing RWAs. It is a futile exercise. In layman’s language tax is imposed where there is income. There is no earning from the maintenance of parks. Rather RWAs have to spend from their own pockets for the purpose. Under this piquant situation, the MC should withdraw its proposal to tax RWAs.
SK Khosla, Chandigarh
QUESTION
The city has jumped four ranks from 20 to 16 in the Swachh Survekshan this year, but the fact is Chandigarh was placed at number two in 2016. While the civic authorities are responsible for maintaining cleanliness, do you think the onus lies on UT residents too? What, according to you, should the authorities and people do to improve cleanliness standards and ranking?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
