The Pioneer 30.11.2010
House nod to withdraw notice on property taxStaff Reporter | New Delhi
Criticising the BJP-ruled MCD for imposing house tax from unauthorised colonies and villages, the Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a motion (under Rule 107) seeking withdrawal of notices issued by MCD for recovery of house tax from residents of Delhi’s 1,639 unauthorised colonies and all villages in the national capital. Notably, the ruling BJP had already passed a resolution in the MCD’s Standing Committee for withdrawal of property tax from unauthorized colonies and villages. The proposal was mooted by MCD Commissioner KS Mehra to improve the financial health of the civic body.
The motion was moved by Congress member Mukesh Sharma. The motion said the house should ensure that no house or property tax be levied on residents of 1,639 unauthorised colonies of Delhi and on the original owners of the property and their heirs in the 365 rural and urban villages who are putting their property for their personal use.
Making scathing attack on the MCD, the Congress members also blasted the BJP leaders for “politicising the issue and misleading the people of rural areas” that the tax was being sought by the Delhi Government, when in fact the move was that of the MCD.
Replying on the motion in the absence of the Opposition BJP in the House, Urban Development Minister Ashok Kumar Walia said that levying property tax on properties in unauthorized colonies and urbanized villages makes no case.
“The civic body has already been collecting property tax from unauthorized colonies, urban villages and rural villages. The property tax collection for the year 2009-10 was Rs.20 crore from unauthorized colonies, Rs.2 crore from urban villages and Rs.8 crore from rural villages. They have been collecting property tax from 9 lakh dwelling units whereas they have no interest in providing civic services as entire system of the MCD has collapsed and there is no maintenance of roads, parks and colonies including unauthorized colonies,” said Walia adding that there is a substantial difference in words and actions of the MCD.
The Minister also stated that the MCD has been taking recourse of blaming Delhi Government to suppress its failures whereas Delhi Government is not at all involving itself in politics.
