Congress keen to claim credit for delay in property tax implementation

MC has for the time being postponed its plans of implementing property tax from April 1 this year. A committee has been formed in Chandigarh by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to take a final decision on the move after studying the pros and cons.

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said that they held detailed discussions on property tax in Chandigarh today and hinted that the unit value assessment process may be altered. He however promised to give the details on Monday.

In the backdrop of this delay the Congress is claiming that it was because of the party’s endeavour that the government was compelled to re-think about the proposed property tax. It needs to be mentioned that the Congress voiced its protest during a MC house meeting on March 12 and the budget session on March 16. It had termed the proposed property tax as”an unwanted burden on the residents”.

A few days ago, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari had called a meeting for discussion on unit value fixation of property tax but Congress councilors had boycotted the meeting. The Congress is demanding that since unit value is quite low and affordable in neighbouring Haryana, the same should be followed here.