It’s showering tax waivers on Mumbaikars. On a day when Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced his poll promise of not charging property tax on flats up to 500 sq. ft, the Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to announce a street tax waiver.
BJP’s Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar said the proposal woul be part of BJP’s manifesto. “Street tax brings in revenue up to Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 600 crore to the civic body. At a time when the city’s roads are full of potholes, we do not approve charging this much tax from Mumbaikars. We are against such tax terrorism. We will not charge this tax until the roads of the city are smooth and without potholes.”
Staking claim to waiver
Street tax is a fractional component of property tax and is different from road tax. The revenue generated is used to set up civic amenities on the city’s roads.
The BJP leader also staked claim on the Sena’s announcement of waiving property tax on flats with an area up to 500 sq. ft. Mr. Shelar said, “As an MLA of this city, it was I who had raised the demand with the Chief Minister to waive property tax on houses with area up to 600 sq. ft. We have decided that no property tax will be levied on houses with built-up area of up to 600 sq. ft once we come to power in the civic body.” He taunted the Sena saying ‘someone’ has registered this demand after we raised it.
Over 16 lakh to benefit
While Sena claims credit for the announcement, the BJP-led State government through a Cabinet decision in May 2015 had announced that property tax for flats with area of up to 500 sq. ft will not be increased for the next five years.
The announcements of the Sena and the BJP are likely to benefit over 17 lakh property owners in the city and residents of old buildings. According to State government, the exact number of beneficiaries is 16.79 lakh.
