Move to collect charges for smart city flayed

The CPM Eluru city committee demanded that the Government withdraw the decision to collect user charges from the people in the name of smart city.

Addressing the city committee meeting here on Wednesday, the committee secretary, P Kishore said that the Union Urban Development Department has decided to collect user charges from the people in the name of smart city. The Eluru Municipal Corporation Council was ready to accept the user charges by passing a resolution.

Kishore alleged that the BJP-led Central Government had campaigned in a big way that it would develop the towns and corporations as smart cities. He questioned the Centre whether imposing taxes was a prerequisite for a smart city.

The city secretary said that the corporation had fixed rates to collect the garbage from the houses above 50 square yards in the city.

The CPM meeting asked the Municipal Corporation not to accept any enhancements of taxes and other decisions that burden people.

CPM district leader Gudipati Narasimha Rao presided over the meeting. Other attendees included CPM city committee members B Somaiah, Mavuri Srinivasa Rao, V Saibaba, B Jagannadha Rao, Chintada Lakshmi, K Ramanjaneyulu and Gottapu Ravi Kishore.