Stating that there is no scientific method in increase in the tax structure in the notices issued by the municipal corporation, Visakhapatnam South MLA Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao has urged Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to direct officials concerned to keep the notices in abeyance till a scientific method is adopted.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said though the corporation had sent the council resolution to limit the tax hike at 50 per cent of the prevailing tax, the government issued an order to increase the tax wide GO 56/2007. In the notices issued to the residents the hike ranged from 100 per cent to 800 per cent in some cases and even tiled houses were not spared. “There are several questions unanswered in the increase of the tax,” he said adding the hike resulted in a severe resentment from the owners of buildings.
TDP suspends stir
The TDP has decided to temporarily call off its nine-day old agitation against the ‘steep hike' in property tax following a meeting with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on the issue.
Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao had convened a meeting on Monday and told the floor leaders of the GVMC that the issue was in the hands of the government and hence a delegation would go to the Chief Minister. TDP district president and former minister Ch.Ayyanna Patrudu addressing a press conference along with Visakhapatnam East MLA V. Ramakrishnababu and Floor Leader in GVMC Ch.V. Pattabhiram said on Tuesday evening that though the Mayor had taken the initiative, the party had waited for a date to be announced for the meeting.
