MCD's decision to waive property tax in Delhi villages meets both praise and criticism

In an announcement made by Mayor Shelly Oberoi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, declared that no property or house tax would be collected from rural residential areas in Fural. This decision was put forth during a press conference over the weekend, where the mayor assured that no notices for property tax would be issued to villagers in these regions. However, property tax will continue to be collected from all designated commercial areas under the civic body.
According to the mayor, this move aligns with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's directives, following discussions with the heads of rural areas in Delhi. The mayor emphasized that a high-level meeting was convened with property tax department officials on Friday, instructing them to abstain from collecting tax from rural residential areas.
Mayor Oberoi highlighted that this decision aims to alleviate the burden on residents, providing them with relief from property tax liabilities. Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal was present at the press conference, affirming the MCD's stance on exempting property tax in rural residential spaces across Delhi.
However, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva contested this move, asserting that sustained protests and pressure from BJP workers compelled the MCD to withdraw numerous tax notices issued to villagers. Sachdeva accused AAP of retracting the notices due to anticipated backlash in the upcoming 2024 elections. He claimed that BJP councillors vehemently opposed property tax imposition during MCD meetings and lobbied support from the lieutenant governor to annul the notices.
Sachdeva alleged that AAP attempted to use the property tax department for unjust extortion from rural residents after assuming power, a move vehemently opposed by the BJP. He further announced plans to launch a protest demanding the reinstatement of property tax discounts revoked by MCD from group housing societies.
Deputy Mayor Iqbal reiterated that property tax exemptions would apply across all 70 constituencies in Delhi with rural areas, encompassing lal dora or extended lal dora regions.
Chaudhary Surendra Solanki, representing the 360 MCD villages, expressed satisfaction after a meeting with the mayor and deputy mayor. Solanki mentioned exemptions for individuals engaged in small-scale employment from property tax within the 2,138 notified roads under MCD for commercial taxes. He expressed hope for the prompt resolution of their other concerns.
In summary, the decision to exempt rural residential areas from property tax aims to ease the financial burden on residents, reflecting the ongoing debates and political discussions surrounding tax imposition in Delhi's rural regions.
This story was earlier published in ET Realty

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MCD's decision to waive property tax in Delhi villages meets both praise and criticism

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