The Free Press Journal

Sena woos middle class with property tax waiver

- SURESH GOLANI

Toeing the lines of their Mumbai counterpar­ts, the local Shiv Sena unit kicked off the party’s campaign by announcing a slew of sops aimed at the middle and lower-middle class as part of its manifesto.

Apart from a volley of other promises and assurances in context to enhancing civic amenities and infrastruc­ture developmen­t of the twin-city, Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik said that it has been decided that property tax will be waived for homes with a carpet area of up to 500 square feet and give concession­s in property taxes for homes with a carpet area of up to 700 square feet when the Sena comes to power in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporatio­n (MBMC).

Sarnaik was addressing media persons at his office in Mira Road in the presence of legislator Ravindra Fatak, Purvesh Sarnaik and Arun Kadam.

Interestin­gly, on the question of whether these sops would incur and affect the MBMC’s coffers, the local Sena leadership assured that a back-up plan to augment and tap fresh avenues of revenue generation will be implemente­d to gap the deficit, this apart from plugging unnecessar­y expenditur­es.

Property tax is the one of the highest source of revenue for the MBMC.

The civic body goes to poll on August, 20.

The Shiv Sena in a bid to fulfil a similar poll promise has already passed a proposal in the BMC in context to property tax waivers.

Gearing up for the upcoming civic elections to the 95-member Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporatio­n (MBMC), the Mira Road division of the Thane (rural) police has drawn up an elaborate roadmap in order to tackle any untoward incident.

Apart from preventive measures, intensifie­d vigilance and beat patrolling, the cops will also have some extra eyes in the sky to help them ensure free, fair and peaceful pre/post polling process across their jurisdicti­on which has six police stations - Uttan, Bhayandar, Navghar, Naya Nagar, Mira Road and Kashimira - under its belt.

In an unique tech-savvy initiative, the police machinery is using drones to monitor the poll process and detect any type of violations of the in-force model code of conduct in view of the civic polls scheduled on August 20.

The Thane (rural) police has recently procured the drones mounted with high definition cameras to click photograph­s, which can later be used to identify the culprits and a strong evidence to nail them.

“While extensive onground security arrangemen­ts have been enhanced to prevail a conducive atmosphere for the people to exercise their franchise, drones in the air will aid aerial policing. Besides special teams in each police station to keep an eye on people with criminal antecedent­s,” said SP Dr. Mahesh Patil.

Preventive actions under the relevant sections of the CrPC including temporary externment (ordering unlawful elements to disperse themselves from the area) have also been initiated against notorious criminals and habitual mischief mongers so they do not create any nuisance.

Cops to use drones for surveillan­ce

 ??  ?? Sarnaik addresses the media, also seen are Ravindra Fatak, Purvesh Sarnaik and Arun Kadam.
Sarnaik addresses the media, also seen are Ravindra Fatak, Purvesh Sarnaik and Arun Kadam.
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