The New Indian Express 05.02.2010
Mayor rules out property tax hike
HYDERABAD: There is no proposal to increase property tax rates for residential and commercial buildings for the financial year of 2010-11, Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy has said. Even if any such proposal is put forward by the officials, it will not be accepted by the Council, she has clarified.
At a Meet-The-Press programme organised by the Hyderabad Union of Journalists (HUJ) here on Thursday, the Mayor said instead of revising the property tax emphasis would be laid on collecting tax dues from defaulters which went up to a few hundred crores.
GHMC officials have made a written request to the State Government to revise property tax rates for both residential and non-residential buildings from the coming financial year to shore up the falling revenues of the civic body. The officials also sought relaxation in the ceiling on tax revision for non-residential proper- ties.
The Mayor said as against a target of Rs 600 crore for the current financial year, the GHMC could collect a little over Rs 300 crore. With just two months left for the financial year to end, special drives would be taken up to collect the remaining amount.
“The GHMC is planning to open temporary property tax collection points in residential colonies for the convenience of tax payers,” she said.
In view of the growing fire mishaps, the GHMC would take up a time-bound identification of multi-storeyed buildings that had not installed fire safety equipment. Legal notices would be served on them to initiate corrective measures immediately.
Non-compliant owners would be prosecuted, she declared.
On the extension of Building Regularisat ion scheme, she said necessary steps would be taken in this regard after carefully considering the issue.
Karthika Reddy s a i d that the GHMC would establish Citizen Service Centres with a tollfree number to enable the public to convey their grievances regarding civic amenities.
A coordinated effort would be made by the Traffic police, GHMC and other departments to reduce traffic congestion in the twin cities. Major projects like the Hyderabad Metro Rail, Multi Modal Transportation System (MMTS) and Bus Rapid Transit System are on the anvil, the Mayor explained.
