Civic chief rejects proposal seeking 25 pc hike in property tax

Aurangabad, Jan 27:

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) administrator A K Pandey today clarified that he had rejected the proposal seeking a hike in property tax by 25 per cent. The request was submitted by the assessor and collector of tax (ACT) for 2021-22.

" The decision is taken reviewing the financial impact of the lives and business of citizens, from all walks of lives, due to Covid-19 pandemic situation in the city," stressed Pandey.

Every year, the section concern submits the proposal of hike in property tax before the standing committee for the approval. Later on, the general body after discussion rejects or directs the civic administration over its implementation. Meanwhile, the tax hike proposal is being tabled for the past three consecutive years, but the then office-bearers of the standing committee and the general body rejected it ordering the civic administration to first focus on 100 per cent recovery of tax. This year, the body is not existing as the civic election is not held. Hence, it was tabled before the civic administrator, and he also set it aside.

It may be noted that there was lockdown in the city since March 22, 2020. The pandemic situation had created a severe impact on the lives of people from all sections of society. Hence the proposal has been rejected, it is learnt.