Maharashtra Minister Hints at Property Tax Waiver for Other Cities
Maharashtra Cabinet minister Subhash Desai said that the state government was contemplating a waiver in property tax for houses measuring 500 s ft or less in other cities — similar to the one offered in Mumbai. “Gradually, the entire state is expected to get the benefit (of waiver). It is just a beginning, as Mumbai has shown the way. We will sit together and decide the future course of action,” said the senior Shiv Sena leader. While the state government has announced waiver in tax for such properties in Mumbai, stakeholders from Aurangabad and Nanded have demanded similar relief. Civic activist Rajendra Datey-Patil said Aurangabad was already part of Smart City Mission of the Centre and, therefore, drop in revenue of the local civic body due to waiver in question can get compensated by the fund-flow from the Centre. “In fact, considering the lower socio-economic status of citizens from Aurangabad, we demand waiver in property tax for houses in Aurangabad upto 1,000 sq ft. The move will benefit scores of citizens from middle and lower-middle class sections,” he said. The move is expected to benefit around 16 lakh property holders from the state capital, state urban development minister Eknath Shinde has said.
Tags : News/Views Maharashtra property tax urban development revenue Smart City Mission Cabinet Minister Subhash Desai