Nagpur: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday demanded that the state govt waive property tax for flats under 700 sq ft.
The Shiv Sena-BJP govt in 2019 waived property tax for all flats under 500 sq ft in Mumbai.
MLA Ajay Chaudhary made the new demand in the legislative assembly. The Shiv Sena (UBT) demand comes ahead of at a time when there is a likelihood of the BMC election being held early next year.
“The then Sena govt waived property tax for all homes under 500 sq ft. However, now in cluster redevelopment, old residents and tenants get 550 to 650 sq ft homes and they have to pay 100% property tax. This is for old and dilapidated buildings, Mhada redevelopment buildings, and other cluster redevelopment buildings. Now, even in Abhyudaya Nagar, the govt is giving 650 sq ft homes, so we want this property tax waiver to be given to up to 700 sq ft homes,” Chaudhary said.
According to BMC officials, there are 4.2 lakh property owners in Mumbai. Around 1.37 lakh properties will get 100% relief from property tax payment with the state govt waiving property tax for those living in homes below 500 sq ft. This will cost the BMC around Rs 462 crore per year. While the state govt announced this decision in 2019, only the general tax component was exempted, and the entire tax was only exempted from Jan 2022.
Last week, newly elected Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and party functionaries urged party chief Uddhav Thackeray to fight local body polls alone on all seats and not be part of the MVA, at least in cities where the Shiv Sena (UBT) has a presence and had been a dominant force till recently.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve on Wednesday said that MLAs and functionaries wanted the party to fight upcoming polls alone and had expressed the view before Thackeray. “Some people have said that we must fight local body polls alone. We are not denying this. Many office-bearers have said Shiv Sena UBT m must fight alone. This is true that there is a view that we must build our organisation and fight on all seats alone,” he said.
