Chennai civic body freezes property tax collection in Ambattur
Enforcement of the Election Commission’s model code of conduct ahead of the LokSabha elections is likely to hit Greater Chennai Corporation’s property tax collection. The civic body has reduced tax collection from residential areas and has instructed officials to not force residents to pay property taxes. In Ambattur zone, officials have been asked to begin collection from residential properties only after the elections. “We have got several representations from the residents welfare associations in Ambattur stating that there was a huge increase in property taxes, compared to the other zones. They also submitted a representation to the rural and municipal administration minister, S P Velumani, and it was forwarded to us,” said M Paranthaman, zonal officer of Ambattur zone. He added that they will continue to collect tax from commercial establishments. “We will not force the residents who have raised concerns to pay now. We will inspect their properties, check their appeals and then issue notices to pay the tax,” he said. In Ambattur, of the 1.10 lakh assessments, only 35% collection has been completed. “In all other zones, 40% collection has been done,” said an official. Election work was cited as the reason for slower collection.
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