Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) The opposition Congress in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Tuesday opposed the hike in property taxes proposed in the budget for fiscal 2011-12 and slammed the BJP-ruled civic body for failing to generate enough revenue.Initiating the debate the standing committee on the budget presented by municipal commissioner by K.S Mehra, Leader of Opposition Jai Kishan Sharma stated it was a repetition of the previous year’s budget.

“Most of the proposals mentioned in last financial year’s budget regarding parking and other projects were repeated this time. There was nothing new,” Sharma said.

He particularly opposed the proposed five percent hike in property taxes, terming this “anti-people and especially anti-poor”.

“The property tax hike would lead to greater financial burden for low-income group people and a lesser burden for high-income group people,” Sharma claimed.

Sharma also made several suggestions for increasing the MCD’s revenue and streamlining its working.

“Instead of raising tax, revenue can be increased by properly implementing the provisions of the DMC Act. A lot of effort is needed but the MCD is not ready for this,” the Congress leader said.

He also said the MCD should identify tax defaulters and bring more properties under the tax net.

“Only about 30 percent of the property owners in the city are paying tax. The hike seems to be an attempt to hide the MCD’s failure (to widen the tax net).”

He pointed out that the MCD has failed to achieve the property tax collection target it set for fiscal 2010-11 that ends March 31.

Sharma also complained that MCD schools are in a poor state. “Even 50 years after MCD came into existence, it has not made arrangements for power, drinking water or toilets in all the schools,” he added.