Srinagar, March 30 (KNS): The Group of Concerned Citizens J&K has urged the administration that statutory orders on imposition of Property Tax within Municipal areas may be reviewed and kept in abeyance.
According to a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the Group has also asked for a process of wider consultation with all
sections of society.
It reads that in a memorandum submitted to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, it acknowledges the need for Urban local bodies to raise additional resources, also by way of levy of taxes, to be able to come up to people's expectations of civic amenities and infrastructure.
“But the group is of the opinion that this may not be a most opportune time to impose property tax in view of the prevailing economic distress, compounded further by surging unemployment / under--employment" .
The GCC has also expressed its reservations on the propriety of property tax, having to be levied by a department of the UT Administration when elected civic bodies were in place.
“The powers to levy property tax have, as an interim arrangement, been vested with the Government under Section 71A of the Municipal Act and Section 143A of the Municipal Corporations Act, to be exercised in a particular situation when there are no elected Municipalities or Corporation,” it reads.
The GCC memorandum also made some specific suggestions on amendment or further explanation of certain clauses in Rules relating to the implementation mechanism to make it public friendly. (KNS)