The New Indian Express 11.04.2017
VMC’s move to collect one-time settlement of property tax dues flayed
VIJAYAWADA: The Taxpayers Association has strongly opposed the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) move of circulating pamphlets allegedly threatening residents to pay property tax through one-time settlement for the 2017-18 fiscal.Addressing a press conference here on Monday, association secretary M V Anjaneyulu alleged that soon after the completion of the fiscal year, the cash-strapped VMC was “over ambitious” to collect the property tax through one-time settlement.
The decision will affect the poor and middle class in the city. He pointed that the civic body has been violating the Section 264 of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act 1955, which clearly states that taxes can be payable by the residents in advance either in half-yearly or in quarterly instalment.
Anjaneyulu also took a dig at the indifferent attitude of the VMC for not initiating action against the ruling TDP leaders whose names are listed as tax defaulters by the civic body officials. Not even a single notice has been served on them. At the same time, the civic body is evolving plans to burden the common people, he added.
“If the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is really committed to the development of the city, first it should serve notices and initiate action against the ruling party leaders,” he dared.
Last year also, the VMC planned to enforce one-time settlement for collecting property tax from the residents, but failed to do so after facing stiff opposition from the left parties and civic associations.Once again, the civic body has come up with the proposal this year as it
failed to meet the fixed target, Anjaneyulu said. He added that if the
VMC implemented one-time settlement for property tax, definitely it
would have its impact on other taxations.
Association president V Sambi Reddy was also present at the news conference.