Panaji: The Goa Industries Development Corporation (GIDC) has decided to hand over Rs 8.36 crore to the directorate of industries, trade and commerce (DITC) as transfer of house tax collected for industrial units. The funds will then be distributed to village panchayats and municipal bodies under which the industrial estates fall. According to GIDC, Rs 7 crore is owed to panchayats while Rs 1.3 crore is meant for four municipal corporations.According to the data, Rs 2 crore is owed to the Nagoa village panchayat as house tax collected from industrial units in the Verna industrial estate. GIDC has also decided to charge Rs 10 per sqm of built-up area in industrial estates and industrial areas, replacing the earlier panchayat- and municipality-wise variable collection method.Other large payouts include Rs 80.9 lakh owed to Cortalim panchayat and Rs 69 lakh to Bicholim municipal council, both for dues accumulated since 2017-18, while smaller estates such as Shiroda, Ugem (Sanguem) and Loutolim’s neighbouring pockets show modest or nil collections.The resolution was passed at GIDC’s board of directors meeting under provisions of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation Act, 1965. The board approved a detailed panchayat- and municipality-wise bifurcation statement covering 16 panchayat jurisdictions and four municipal councils across industrial estates including Kundaim, Verna, Bicholim, Corlim, Honda and Madkaim.Among panchayats, Bhoma in the Kundaim industrial estate is owed Rs 67.4 lakh, and Cortalim and Nagoa in the Verna industrial estate together account for over Rs 2.9 crore, the largest share of the payout. Among municipalities, Bicholim is owed the highest amount at Rs 69 lakh, followed by Mapusa (Rs 33.8 lakh) and Cuncolim (Rs 27.9 lakh).The managing director has been authorised to take action to give effect to the resolution, including payment to DITC.
