The Times of India 13.04.2013
VMC hikes house tax
VARANASI: After a gap of three years, Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) has increased the house tax. This decision was taken on Thursday evening.
Municipal commissioner RP Singh said it was necessary to increase house tax to provide basic facilities to the people. It is a regular process in all municipal corporation and taxes can be updated after every two years. After Kanpur, Agra, Ghazipur, the taxes has been increased in Varanasi.
Singh said that for 90 per cent of the houses will pay 5 to 10 per cent enhanced house tax, while close to 10 per cent will have to pay 20 to 25 per cent more. In order to encourage house tax collection, the VMC is the first municipal corporation to exempt the tax payers from paying interest on pending taxes from January to April 15. Such a step has relieved a lot of tax payers who had huge amount of debt. He informed that as many as 1.77 lakh houses have been identified under VMC, out of which 1.45 lakh were accounted for paying taxes in 2012-2013. An amount of Rs 19.25 crore has been collected as house tax in the last financial year. The proposed target for house tax collection in the current financial year is Rs 23 crore.
It must be mentioned here that before tabling its budget, the VMC had proposed a hike in house taxes. Resentment was brewing and corporators were also not in a mood to support the move of corporation. During the budget session, the VMC house unanimously decided that no such hike would be made.
Members of Varanasi Nagar Udyog Vyapar Mandar (VNUVM) held a meeting at Sigra on Friday and condemned the decision to hike house tax.
Municipal commissioner RP Singh said it was necessary to increase house tax to provide basic facilities to the people. It is a regular process in all municipal corporation and taxes can be updated after every two years. After Kanpur, Agra, Ghazipur, the taxes has been increased in Varanasi.
Singh said that for 90 per cent of the houses will pay 5 to 10 per cent enhanced house tax, while close to 10 per cent will have to pay 20 to 25 per cent more. In order to encourage house tax collection, the VMC is the first municipal corporation to exempt the tax payers from paying interest on pending taxes from January to April 15. Such a step has relieved a lot of tax payers who had huge amount of debt. He informed that as many as 1.77 lakh houses have been identified under VMC, out of which 1.45 lakh were accounted for paying taxes in 2012-2013. An amount of Rs 19.25 crore has been collected as house tax in the last financial year. The proposed target for house tax collection in the current financial year is Rs 23 crore.
It must be mentioned here that before tabling its budget, the VMC had proposed a hike in house taxes. Resentment was brewing and corporators were also not in a mood to support the move of corporation. During the budget session, the VMC house unanimously decided that no such hike would be made.
Members of Varanasi Nagar Udyog Vyapar Mandar (VNUVM) held a meeting at Sigra on Friday and condemned the decision to hike house tax.
