The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Saturday decided to constitute a four-member advisory committee to review the increase in property tax.
Following uproar and discussions that lasted for nearly two hours during the GHMC’s General Body meeting held on Saturday, Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain said that the decision to decrease the property tax would be taken based on the recommendations of the advisory committee. As soon as the meeting began, corporators across party lines created uproar demanding decrease in property tax.
TDP floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy alleged that the GHMC has focused its attention on collection of property tax while neglecting its primary duty of providing basic amenities to the citizens. He demanded that there should be different slabs for property tax for different areas in the GHMC limits.
Demanding decrease in the property tax, MIM floor leader Mohammad Nazeeruddin said that the common man was burned due to the property tax. Nampally MLA Virasat Rasool Khan complained that the officials were not updating the collection of property tax from the citizens and several house owners were being harassed seeking double tax.
While Congress floor Kaleru Venkatesh demanded constitution of a committee to review the residential and commercial properties in the GHMC limits, BJP floor leader Bangari Prakash demanded that the GHMC should focus on improving the amenities than investing all its energies on tax collection.
However, GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said that the decision to increase the property tax was taken by the State Government and therefore, the GHMC could not reduce the tax. He said there were about 3 lakh house owners who pay nearly Rs 500 as property tax while nearly 80,000 owners pay just Rs 100 property tax. He said as per the law, the GHMC was authorised to collect the property tax of rental value of nearly three-and-a-half months. Whereas, he said the GHMC has been collecting just one month’s rent as property tax.
Krishna Babu informed that by September this year, the GHMC is likely to prepare a new list of tax payers based on the buildings to be identified through Google maps.
Later, the Mayor also informed the council that former Zonal Commissioner of South Zone was found guilty of clearing about 30 bogus bills. However, he said all the files relating to those bills would be presented and reviewed by the Standing Committee and the matter would then be referred to the Vigilance Commissioner for further action.
The Mayor also directed the authorities to furnish the details of exact number of Huqqa parlours operating in the GHMC limits. He also directed that the contractors who are not executing the works within 45 days should be served notices and if they do not start the work within seven days of serving of notice, then they should be blacklisted.
Meanwhile, the GHMC Commissioner informed the council that an enquiry has been ordered into the alleged irregularities in the maintenance of sweeping staff. He said the group size of sanitation staff has been reduced from 18 to seven for effective function. However, he admitted a majority of 367 contractors were found trying to exploit the system. But, no such irregularities were found in the functioning of 460 self-help groups.
CPI MLC P J Chandrasekhar Rao demanded that the GHMC provide insurance, health check-up, weekly-off and night-uniform facilities to the entire sanitation staff.
The GHMC council has paid rich tributes to V Hanumanthu, former Deputy Mayor, who passed away recently.
The GHMC general body meeting was later adjourned till May 24. (INN)