CPI-M leaders protest against forcible collection of taxes in Nellore

CPM Nellore City Committee protests against high electricity bills, property taxes, and water taxes in Nellore city.

After conducting a rally demanding the government to reduce the burden of increased electricity bills, the members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Nellore City Committee have joined hands with the local people in their protest against forcible collection of property taxes and water taxes in Nellore city.

Staging a dharna in front of the Ward Secretariat in Bhagat Singh Colony under the limits of Division 54 of Nellore city constituency on Thursday (March 20), the CPM leaders demanded that the officials of Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) stop harassing the people in the name of collecting property taxes and water taxes.

“The NMC officials are harassing the people by forcibly collecting taxes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims that free drinking water is being supplied to every house under under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme, while water taxes to the tune of thousands of rupees are being imposed on every household in Nellore,” CPI-M Nellore city secretary Kathi Srinivasulu alleged.

“It is not appropriate to resort to force to fill the treasury. Forcible collection of taxes should be stopped immediately. The high interest charged on house tax should be waived off. Safe drinking water should be supplied free of cost to all the households. If the harassment does not stop, we will mobilise the people of Nellore city and soon lay siege to the corporation office,” he warned.

Earlier a review meeting was held with the Revenue Department and Ward Secretariat admin secretaries, NMC Commissioner Surya Teja has directed the staff to attach the properties of those who have long pending tax dues. He advised the tax defaulters to make efforts to pay their dues completely by the end of this month.

He suggested the NMC officials to implement the Revenue Recovery Act if necessary to recover tax dues. He anticipated that everyone would achieve the set targets to keep NMC among the top civic bodies in tax collections across the State. He also directed the officials to submit a report on the actions taken on collection of arrears at the next meeting.

In 2022, the AP High Court had directed the NMC to return forcibly collected property tax of ₹34.12 lakh with interest to a petitioner, whose building complex was sealed even after taking a cheque for the same amount by putting pressure. The court had observed that the action of the NMC staff was ‘anti-constitutional’. Despite such verdicts, the NMC continued forcible collection of taxes.