The Times of India 30.11.2010
No property tax in unauthorized colonies: Govt
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to woo its critical vote banks in unauthorized colonies, rural and urbanized villages, the ruling Congress in the Delhi assembly unanimously adopted a motion on Monday that property tax should not be levied by the MCD in these areas.
The motion specified that the tax should not be levied in unauthorized colonies, where dwelling units are being used for personal residence, till the colonies are regularized. They also agreed that property tax should not be levied on all the properties belonging to original settlers and their heir in rural villages and urbanized villages.
A motion on imposition of property tax on unauthorized colonies and urbanized villages was moved by Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma demanding that MCD should be directed to not levy property tax in unauthorized colonies until the colonies are regularized.
Replying to the motion, Delhi urban development minister A K Walia lashed out at the MCD stating that the corporation has been consistently blaming the Delhi government to deflect attention from its own failures. ''The MCD leaves no opportunity to blame and malign the Delhi government,'' he asserted.
Walia stated that the MCD has already been collecting property tax from unauthorized colonies, urban villages and rural villages. The collection in respect of year 2009-10 was Rs 20 crore in unauthorized colonies, Rs 2 crore in urban villages and Rs 8 crore in rural villages.
''They (MCD) have been collecting property tax from 9 lakh dwelling units but they have no interest in providing civic services as the entire system of the MCD has collapsed and there is no maintenance of roads, parks and colonies, including unauthorized colonies. They are only interested in making allegations on the Delhi government. The MCD must understand that 97% of the capital's area is coming under their jurisdiction,'' Walia added.
He further alleged that the MCD has been finding excuses to delay the process of regularization of colonies. ''The city government sent drawings of 700 unauthorized colonies out of which the MCD returned the layout plan of only six colonies. With this pace, the regularization process will never be completed. The onus lies on the MCD to finalize layout plans so that the Delhi government can approach the high court for regularization of colonies,'' Walia argued.
With this background, he reaffirmed that levying property tax on properties in unauthorized colonies and urbanized villages makes no sense.
The motion specified that the tax should not be levied in unauthorized colonies, where dwelling units are being used for personal residence, till the colonies are regularized. They also agreed that property tax should not be levied on all the properties belonging to original settlers and their heir in rural villages and urbanized villages.
A motion on imposition of property tax on unauthorized colonies and urbanized villages was moved by Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma demanding that MCD should be directed to not levy property tax in unauthorized colonies until the colonies are regularized.
Replying to the motion, Delhi urban development minister A K Walia lashed out at the MCD stating that the corporation has been consistently blaming the Delhi government to deflect attention from its own failures. ''The MCD leaves no opportunity to blame and malign the Delhi government,'' he asserted.
Walia stated that the MCD has already been collecting property tax from unauthorized colonies, urban villages and rural villages. The collection in respect of year 2009-10 was Rs 20 crore in unauthorized colonies, Rs 2 crore in urban villages and Rs 8 crore in rural villages.
''They (MCD) have been collecting property tax from 9 lakh dwelling units but they have no interest in providing civic services as the entire system of the MCD has collapsed and there is no maintenance of roads, parks and colonies, including unauthorized colonies. They are only interested in making allegations on the Delhi government. The MCD must understand that 97% of the capital's area is coming under their jurisdiction,'' Walia added.
He further alleged that the MCD has been finding excuses to delay the process of regularization of colonies. ''The city government sent drawings of 700 unauthorized colonies out of which the MCD returned the layout plan of only six colonies. With this pace, the regularization process will never be completed. The onus lies on the MCD to finalize layout plans so that the Delhi government can approach the high court for regularization of colonies,'' Walia argued.
With this background, he reaffirmed that levying property tax on properties in unauthorized colonies and urbanized villages makes no sense.
