BMC may offer 2-5% discount on tax bill and aid of Rs 50K-Rs 1L

MUMBAI: In a bid to conserve water, the civic body has now decided to lure housing societies with financial sops.

The BMC plans to frame a policy offering rebate in property tax for those buildings that will go in for rainwater harvesting. The decision was taken after corporators made a demand to have such a policy in the last week`s meeting of the sub-committee formed especially for matters related to equitable distribution of water. The corporation is also looking at giving financial aid of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to housing societies that were willing to set up a plant for rainwater harvesting. The schemes will be based on those on offer in Delhi.

In a bid to encourage more and more housing societies to undergo rainwater harvesting, the BMC has decided to frame a policy giving rebate in property tax. The decision comes after corporators last week made the demand at the meeting of the sub-committee, newly formed to address issues related to the equitable distribution of water.

Officials said that the policy when framed, would be implemented only after the capital-value-based property tax system came into effect. "We are still trying to work out the logistics of the scheme. For the time being, we have decided to but as of now, we are thinking of giving offer a concession of 2-5% on property tax bills," said an official from the assessment and collection department. "Though we may end up incurring a little loss in our revenue, it will help in overall development."

In 2002, the BMC first set up its rainwater harvesting cell and made rainwater harvesting mandatory for every new building, measuring 1,000 sq m. , to have rainwater harvesting facility. In 2007, a government notification brought the cut-off down and made the rule compulsory for even buildings with a plot area of 300 sq m. Since 2002, 1,651 buildings have been availing of the facility.

tightened the limit and made it mandatory for buildings having a plot area of 300 square metres and above to set up rainwater harvesting plants. Since October 2002, when the rules were first made, as many as 1,651 buildings set up the facility.

Standing committee chairperson Rahul Shewale said the new initiative was being taken to rope in more buildings, other than the new societies that are bound to go in for rainwater harvesting. "This will be possible only when the new capital-value-based property tax system is implemented," he said.

BJP corporator Ashish Shelar is all out to support the green movement. "Though there is a provision to provide tax concession in the green housing policy, scores accorded to rainwater harvesting are very few. Considering the importance of the practice, a separate policy is needed and water byelaws should be amended," he said.

The discussion came up last week during the meeting of the sub-committee set up for addressing issues related to distribution of water in the city. "Although there is a provision to provide tax concession in the green housing policy, the points accorded to rainwater harvesting are very few. Considering the importance of the issue, a separate policy is needed and amendment in water byelaws should be made," said BJP corporator and leader Ashish Shelar.