The Times of India 06.09.2012
House, flat buyers find Narmada tax taxing
BHOPAL: The state government's decision to levy Narmada tax prior to issuing building permission for any construction will not put an additional burden on those constructing new house, but also on those who had bought houses after 2008 in Bhopal.Director of Fortune Builders and president of CREDAI Ajay Mohgaonkar questioned the criterion of charging Narmada tax."Is it that Narmada water be supplied to only ones, who have built their houses after 2008 or the city would get the benefit? If all wards coming under Narmada water supply network are to be benefitted why only ones who have built houses after 2008 should bear the burden," he said, adding that CREDAI would soon challenge it in court.
Any tax if charged uniformly for basic need like water should not be objected, but it must certainly not target only ones who have bought houses after 2008 in Bhopal, said Anshuman Jain, a businessman who bought a flat on JK road few months ago.Amit Tiwari, branch manager of a bank in Bhopal said he would not mind paying a few thousand more provided if the BMC supplies sufficient potable water. Tiwari is looking forward to buy a property in Bhopal.Ajay Khare, executive in a multinational does not go with the idea of levying any additional tax on property owners. Government should reconsider the decision.
Khare bought a house in Bhopal two years ago and has to pay EMIs.The Narmada tax was first introduced in 2008 after it was passed in the Bhopal Municipal Corporation's general council meet. However, as soon as the corporation started charging this additional tax it was challenged in the court.It came to light that corporation cannot levy Narmada tax unless the state government gives the nod. The proposal was sent to the state government after that and the BMC stopped charging Narmada tax.But in a smart move, the cash-starved corporation started taking affidavits from ones applying for building permission after that.
The affidavit entrusted the BMC with the powers of charging Narmada tax even from ones who have been issued the building permissions from 2008 till the state government cleared the Narmada tax proposal ie on September 4.BMC commissioner Rajneesh Shrivastava said, "The corporation expects to collect around Rs 20 crore from the ones who have been issued building permission from 2008 onwards. The affidavits were taken from applicants at the time of issuing building permissions and the corporation has all the powers for charging Narmada tax."
