In another attempt to score political brownie points ahead of next year’s Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena reiterated its demand of waiving property tax on houses. Shiv Sena’s Sunil Prabhu, MLA, met Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Monday in connection with this as well as the need to go easy on Ganpati mandals on footpaths.
Before last year’s election to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Sena had announced that, if elected to power, it would waive property tax on all houses up to 500 sq feet in Mumbai. It had also announced that properties up to 700 sq feet would be given a tax rebate. After coming to power, a proposal brought before the general assembly in July was passed by the majority and sent to the State government. However, Sena corporators have been miffed that there has been no progress on it since.
Meanwhile, Mumbai unit Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar had demanded in the Assembly in March that property tax be waived for houses up to 750 sq feet. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had reportedly responded positively to this but said the BMC needs to send a proposal to the government.
Mr. Prabhu met the municipal commissioner in this regard on Monday. Representing 15 other MLAs and all corporators, Mr. Prabhu demanded that Mr. Mehta send a proposal to the State government immediately for property tax waiver to houses between 500 sq ft and 700 sq feet.
“Someone is trying to scuttle our proposal that will benefit lakhs of Mumbaikars. Who are these people? The BMC and Urban Development Department are pointing fingers at each other. We will not let someone scuttle the Shiv Sena’s poll promises,” said Mr. Prabhu. After his meeting, Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also met the commissioner.
Meanwhile, the BJP continues to claim that a property tax waiver for houses up to 750 sq feet is their idea. “I demanded the waiver and it was consented by all parties on the floor of the House. The BMC has still not sent the proposal to the State government,” said Mr. Shelar.
The State is not bound by resolutions passed by BMC’s general assembly on administrative matters, unless it is ratified by the Municipal Commissioner. In this case, the proposal was merely sent by the Assembly without being endorsed by the commissioner. Similarly, there is no proposal from the BMC for a tax waiver on property up to 750 sq feet.
‘Go easy on mandals’
Mr. Prabhu also demanded that Ganpati mandals not be refused permission to set up pandals and entrances as the corporation has decided to crack down on unauthorised ones from this year.
“In fact, civic officers should help mandals apply for the necessary permissions and obtain them. Such strict measures for Hindu festivals may send a wrong message,” Mr. Prabhu said in a statement.
BJP leader Manoj Kotak also agreed that BMC should not crack down on mandals this year
