In a major relief to property owners, the BJP-ruled East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has decided to keep the implementation of third municipal valuation committee (MVC) recommendations on hold.
In a major relief to property owners, the BJP-ruled East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has decided to keep the implementation of third municipal valuation committee (MVC) recommendations on hold. EDMC mayor Satya Sharma said that a committee will be constituted to relook at the recommendations. As per the recommendation of the third MVC, category and factors deciding property tax of industrial and commercial areas have changed and majority of them shifted to a higher category, which has raised property tax rates.
The recommendations of the third MVC has being opposed by most markets in East Delhi. “Taking a practical viewpoint and considering the protest by traders, EDMC has decided to relook at the recommendations of the report. A committee would be formed for this purpose. Till then, the third MVC report’s implementation would be kept pending,” said Ms Sharma.
A BJP insider said that the implementation of the third MVC has been intentionally done to avoid people’s anger before the next year municipal polls. “Implementing the recommendation may result in a steep hike of property tax. Such a hike is not in favour of any ruling party before the election,” he added.
A committee to be constituted by the EDMC would look into various aspects regarding implementation of the third MVC’s recommendations and present its report to the House. Ms Sharma also said that the EDMC has decided to keep the implementation of third MVC recommendations pending considering the impediments being faced in this regard.
EDMC Standing Committee chairperson Lata Gupta said that the decision to implement the reports was earlier taken under pressure as the Delhi government had proposed it as one of the conditions for releasing funds to the corporation, which were desperately needed to pay salaries to employees.
“We were facing the challenge of disbursement of salary then. Now, at the implementation stage, lots of issues have come to notice. Those issues need to be addressed before implementation,” she added.
