Hindustan Times 10.11.2010
Have your say on property taxThe civic body has decided to extend the deadline for suggestions and objections from the people over the proposed switch in the property tax system — from rateable value to capital value — by 15 days. Officials said the extension, which was given due to poor public response, would delay the implementation of the new system.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had asked citizens to provide suggestions and objections on its website or at the ward office by November 16.
But the BMC has decided to extend the deadline up to November 30 because it did get enough response.
The decision was taken after BJP leader Ashish Shelar met municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya on Monday.
A BMC official said: “We had planned to obtain all necessary permissions for this changeover before December and issue revised bills in the second week of December.”
Vasant Pandere, head of the department, said: “We have proposed 15 days’ extension, instead of 30, which was demanded. The municipal commissioner will take final decision over the proposal.”
Even after repeated attempts, Kshatriya could not be contacted for his comments.
The civic assessor and collection department, which handles property tax issue, planned to implement the new tax system before March 31, with retrospective effect from April 1, 2010.
The difference between the old and new bill will be adjusted in the next bills.
The new property tax based on the capital-value system will be based on the property’s current market value as well as give weightage to five other factors including area of flat, age of building, usage of land and type of construction.
Earlier, property tax was computed on the basis of rent paid by tenants.
The civic body decided to change the capital value-based property tax system in order to bring about parity in taxation.
