Urban News

Hindustan Times 18.01.2010

Providing relief to scores of professionals in the city, the legislative wing of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning not to introduce professional tax this year.

Last year, the MCD commissioner had proposed to introduce professional tax on all those professionals who work in Delhi’s MCD area and have an income of more than Rs 30,000 per month.

But the civic agency’s high powered standing committee has decided not to clear this item to be tabled at Monday’s special meeting for finalising the revised budget estimates of 2009-10 and budget estimates of 2010-11.

“We don’t want to burden Delhiites who are already finding it difficult to cope with rising prices. The standing committee members have decided not to introduce this tax,” said Ram Kishan Singhal, chairman of the standing committee of the MCD.

The municipal commissioner had proposed an increase of five per cent in tax rates in all categories — residential and commercial — in the city.

The entire MCD area has been divided into eight categories A to H, wherein category A stands for upscale colonies.

The committee is planning to provide rebate in property tax too.

“Rather than 5 per cent which was proposed by the municipal commissioner, we will try to reduce the rate of tax for category A and B,” said Singhal.

According to sources, the civic agency is also planning to charge Rs. 100 for any animal entering the city.