Srinagar, Feb 27 (KNS): Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha on Monday reiterated that J&K residents will have to pay "lowest" tax on their properties and that concerns of common man have been duly taken care of while formulating the law.
"People will have to pay lowest property tax. If we compare Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun with J&K, the UT has to pay only 1/10th of these states which is very low," LG Sinha said while speaking to reporters at SKICC.
He said "We have 520000 houses in Jammu, Srinagar and other Municipal Committees out of which 206000 fall below 1000 square feet which means there are 40 percent will not have to pay property tax. Further we have 203600 houses that fall below 1500 square feet. Such houses have to pay maximum Rs 1000 annually as property tax", the LG said.
He said similarly there 101000 shops in Jammu, Srinagar and other areas falling under MCs out of which 46 percent shops fall below 100 square feet. "Shops below 100 sq ft will have to pay Rs 700 maximum annually on account of property tax", the LG clarified, adding that 30000 shops have to pay less than Rs 2000 annually.
LG Manoj Sinha said that while formulating the property tax law, concerns of common man have been duly taken care of. "If a common man feels any doubt, he or she may approach us. Such steps are aimed to improve the living standards of people of Jammu and Kashmir."
While reacting over killing of Kashmir Pandit in Pulwama, he termed it "unfortunate" and said the tragic incident deserves condemnation from all quarters in one voice.
"Those involved in the killing would be dealt as per law. Security forces are there and they will chase the perpetrators of the crime," he said.
LG Sinha said such incidents inflict sense of insecurity sometimes but they are working on 360 degree alert security apparatus to foil such designs in future. (KNS)