In a major relief to people living in rural areas in the national Capital, the AAP-ruled MCD has announced that house tax notices will not be sent in any rural residential areas and house tax will not be collected from them in future. The announcement to this effect was made by Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi on Saturday announcing that from now on MCD will not collect house tax from any rural residential area.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday claimed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD)was forced to withdraw lakhs of notices issued people of Delhi Dehat villages following continuous protest by the people of Delhi Dehat and BJP workers. Stating this here, he also said the AAP was forced to withdraw these notices fearing peoples’ wrath in ensuing 2024 election. Sachdeva said BJP Councilors in MCD strongly protested against the property tax being levied on villages in the monthly meeting of MCD when the topic came up for discussion.
“As per the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a few days ago, we held discussions with the heads of Delhi's rural areas. Following this, there was a high-level meeting with all the officials of Property Tax on Friday and it was decided not to collect property tax from the rural dehat. Property tax department has been issued orders not to collect taxes from villages. Property Tax will be collected as usual from all designated commercial areas of the MCD,” Oberai said.
“During the 15 years of BJP rule in the civic agency, the public was harassed a lot by sending house tax notices. A few days ago we discussed with the Pradhans of rural areasof the city and a high level meeting was held with all the concerned officials following which directions were given not to collect tax. House tax will be collected from all notified commercial areas of MCD as before,” the Mayor said.
Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal stated, “In all 70 constituencies of Delhi where there are rural areas, be it Lal Dora or Extended Lal Dora, property tax will not be collected from there. Under the leadership of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, a decision was made in a meeting with officials of the property tax department.”
Chaudhary SurendraSolanki, Pradhan of 360 villages said that the mayor has given a clear message that there will be no house tax in all the rural areas of Delhi. There are 2138 roads notified by MCD, there tax will be given on commercial but if any villager is doing small employment, then house tax will not be collected from him. “We had also taken this decision in the Panchayat of Peeragadhi. We are happy that our voice was heard. We hope that whatever other issues will be heard as soon as possible,” Solanki said.
Earlier Sachdeva said he along with a delegation of BJP leaders of Delhi Dehat and the members of Delhi's 360 Villages Panchayat had met Lt. Governor V K Saxena and extended support to the Panchayat's demand for withdrawal of notices.
Delhi BJP leaders regularly extended support to the dharnas and protest organised by the people of Delhi by participating in them and this rattled the Aam Aadmi Party ultimately forcing the Mayor of Delhi to announce withdrawal of the property tax notices.
Delhi BJP President said after coming to power AAP Councilors tried to make property tax department a medium to extort from people of Delhi especially those living in Dehat but BJP will not let this happen.
Sachdeva said now BJP will agitate for restoration of property tax discount taken back by MCD from Group Housing Societies.
