Residents demand roll back of property tax revision
The Hindu
Government’s move to revise the tax with effect from April 2022 has caught everyone by surprise.
Residents have demanded a roll back of the decision to increase property tax in urban areas.
V. S. Jayaraman of T. Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association said the Government’s move to revise the tax with effect from April 2022 has caught everyone by surprise. The revision comes at a time when the prices of essentials are sky-rocketing, fuelled by the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG.
“The hike in the property tax is indeed ill-timed. The last increase in the property tax effected in 2018-19, it was stalled by the then government. It constituted a committee to ascertain the views of all the stake-holders prior to coming out with its recommendations. Has the committee so constituted held any meetings with the stakeholders as mandated by the then Government? If, so when were such meetings held? To our knowledge, no such meeting was held to get to get to know the feedback from the residents,” he said.
“Further, the DMK government, in its election manifesto had stated that property tax will not be hiked until the economy completely recovers from the effects of COVID-19 [Item No.487 in the election manifesto]. Does the government now feel that it is opportune time to revise the tax?” he added. “The government must rescind its decision. People voted for the DMK taking into consideration its various promises,” said Mr. Jayaraman.
S. Kumara Raja, president of Annai Indira Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Velachery, said residents have requested the State government to reconsider the decision to raise taxes.
“Shops would also pass the burden onto consumers and customers. Thus there would be a rise in inflation. Already the prices of fuels have risen. In this scenario the life of ordinary people is a struggle for even the basics for a decent life,” he said.
V. Rama Rao of Nanganallur said the State government announcement of a maximum of 150% rise in property tax is irrational.
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