Urban News

“There were complaints that many properties in the civic jurisdiction were not assessed for property tax. Thus, the survey will identify such properties and bring existing properties in the city in the tax net,” said Arvind Shinde, chairman, standing committee. He said the agency will also be asked to check the use of properties and inform the civic body if there is any change in the use as tax for commercial, residential, industrial, educational and medical use is different. The survey of all properties will be carried out zonewise for each of the four zones.

The property tax is the second largest revenue source for the civic body after octroi collection. The boom in the real estate business has resulted in increase in new properties falling in tax net by 40,000 each in the last two years.

The civic property tax department has implemented various schemes, including tax rebate of 10 per cent for those who pay the amount in first two months. It also gives discount for the properties that are occupied by the owner and also to those implementing environment friendly measures.

Meanwhile, to ensure onetime payment, the civic body on the directions of state government is also set to fine two percent penalty every month on those delaying the payment of property tax.

This is not the first time that the civic body has postponed the decision to hike water tariff. The hike is part of the reforms that the Municipal Corporation has to implement under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. In a communication to Municipal Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria, Mayor Anu Chatrath has stated that the proposal should be revised.

The issue of the hike has been pending since last year. The initial proposal prepared by the officials was for the water tariffs to be almost doubled. The former mayor Kamlesh had not allowed the agenda to be brought up to the House for discussion. For grants under JNNURM to be regularly given to the civic body the reforms suggested have to be implemented.

However, there has always been a divided opinion between the officials and elected representatives on the issue. While the officials are in favour of a hike, the elected representatives have shown their reluctance for the same.

With the elections of the Municipal Corporation scheduled for next year, political parties are reluctant to take any such step. Chatrath said: “We had a meeting of Congress councillors. It was calculated that the actual hike in tariffs was much more than what the officials had stated. So we decided to withdraw the agenda from the House Meet. Further decision would be taken later.”