Mangalore: Congress breaks manifesto promise - Hikes property tax by 15 percent

Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Mar 17: The district Congress prior to the urban local body elections in March 2013 had promised in its manifesto that it would not hike the self-assessment property tax in the course of the next five years if it came to power. However, a year after winning the ULB elections, the Congress seems to have gone back on its word.

The Congress has now come up with the decision to hike the self-assessment property tax by 15 percent, thus breaching its own promise.

This decision was taken in a special meeting convened on February 22 by deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, which was also attended by two MLAs from the district, J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava. It is said that since the city was yet to get a mayor at the time, the meeting was attended by the MLAs.

Incidentally, J R Lobo who had headed the manifesto committee at the time of elections, is learnt to have approved the decision to hike the tax, even signing the relevant documents. Bava has also signed the documents with regard to the approval (copies of the documents are available with daijiworld).

The Congress in its manifesto for the local body elections had promised that it would not even touch the tax to safeguard the interests of the citizens. In the manifesto (copy available with daijiworld) it was stated that the BJP during its tenure had implemented self-assessment tax scheme (SAS) in the many cities. The Congress which raked up this issue during the elections had claimed that it had made deliberate efforts to thwart BJP's move in Mangalore and was successful in stop its implementation. Adding to this, Congress promised not to make any changes in the present property tax for a period of five years if the party comes to power in MCC.

Pushing the promise into oblivion, Congress party gave its nod to hike the self assessment property tax by 15 percent in addition to the 15 percent tax already imposed in the year 2008. 

Defending the move, Congress leaders explained that the hike was inevitable since the decision was taken on account of legal norms that require the tax rate to be revised once in three years.

Waste disposal tax hike

In the meeting, the authorities also decided to hike the annual tax of solid waste management in the city for residential and non-residential buildings. 

For the residential buildings constructed on a site less than 500 sq ft, an annual tax of Rs 240 will be imposed. For buildings on 500-1000 sq ft, the amount payable is Rs 480, for building on 1000-2000 sq ft, the amount is Rs 720 and those on area above 2000 sq ft, are liable to pay Rr 960.

For non-residential buildings, tax hike falls in between Rs 600 – Rs 9,600, depending on the type of building. Industrial buildings have to pay Rs 3,600 - Rs 10,800, while marriage halls and hostels have to pay Rs 3,600 to Rs 36,000. The two MLAs have approved these decisions.

The meeting was convened 22 days after to the meeting convened by district incharge minister Ramanath Rai. On February 10, Rai had instructed to hold another meeting when the issue of tax hike was discussed.