Big relief for owners (Photo-Patrika)

Bhilai Municipal Corporation's Mayor-in-Council (MIC) on Tuesday turned down any increase in property tax for the financial year 2026-27. The commissioner had proposed a revision in the taxable value of buildings and land, but MIC members rejected the move outright, stating that not even a one per cent increase would be allowed. The decision means no additional financial burden on the city's taxpayers for now.

Mini-tipper purchase sent back for review

A proposal to buy 15 mini-tippers for solid waste management was kept pending. The L-1 agency had offered to supply the vehicles at Rs 7.43 lakh each, totalling Rs 1.11 crore. The MIC has asked officials to review the case again and resubmit the proposal.

Penalty for agency over uncollected garbage

MIC member Keshav Chaubey raised the issue of door-to-door garbage collection being disrupted due to faulty hand-rickshaws, and demanded e-rickshaws be provided instead. The health officer told the meeting that the agency concerned is being penalised whenever garbage collection is missed. Officials assured that e-rickshaws would be arranged.

Rs 2.54 crore for road and street lighting

The MIC approved construction of a road running parallel to the railway line, from the railway station to the Nehru Nagar underbridge. The Rs 2.54 crore project includes drains, cross-drain culverts, a retaining wall and street lighting. A further Rs 4.15 lakh was sanctioned for shifting electricity poles, along with additional works worth more than Rs 63 lakh.

Crackdown on faulty street lights and poor roads

Officials were directed to promptly fix street lights that stay off during festivals. The meeting also warned that contractors found responsible for poor-quality road construction would be blacklisted.

Marriage hall to go to private operator

The MIC approved a proposal to hand over the Dr B R Ambedkar Sarv Samaj Mangal Bhavan in Santoshipara to a private operator for 10 months for its operation, management and maintenance. An extension to the contract tenure of revenue officer J P Tiwari was also approved.

Underbridge naming referred to general body

An earlier proposal to name the Maurya-Chandra underbridge after senior corporator, the late Vashisht Narayan Mishra, has been amended. A revised proposal to name the Power House underbridge instead has now been sent to the general body, which will take the final call.

The MIC meeting was attended by Mayor Neeraj Pal and members Laxmipati Raju, Ciju Anthony, Aditya Singh, Sandeep Nirankari, Ekansh Banchhor, Lalchand Verma, Keshav Chaubey, Mannan Gaffar Khan, Chandrashekhar Ganvir and Neha Sahu, along with corporation officials.

Pandal fee waived up to 5,000 sq ft

Pandals put up at public places measuring up to 5,000 square feet have been exempted from permission fees, though a fee will still apply if commercial activity takes place inside them. For pandals larger than 5,000 square feet, a permission fee of Rs 3.50 per square foot plus a Rs 2,000 cleaning charge will be levied. The security deposit will be refundable, and organisers will be responsible for ensuring pandals do not obstruct traffic.

Members skipped breakfast at the meeting

MIC members reportedly declined breakfast during the meeting, taking the decision amid ongoing discussions over the civic body's finances.