Vijayawada: APUCF demands withdrawal of ordinance on property tax

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Urban Citizens Federation (APUCF) demanded that the government withdraw immediately the ordinance issued to enhance the property tax basing on the market value of the property .

Addressing the media at Makineni Basavapunnaiah Vigjana Kendram here on Tuesday, Ch Babu Rao, convener of the APUCF, said that the Centre and State governments were working in unison to burden the people in the name of house tax, water and drainage charges which is atrocious.

He recalled that Aatmanirbhar Bharat package in the name of urban reforms is intended to burden the people when they are deep in troubles due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, these reforms are supposed to give solace to people.

The Centre sets conditions on the State governments in the name extending loans, he said and deplored stating that the YSRCP government issued the ordinance No 16 on war-footing amending the municipal enactments.

As per the amendments, the house tax will be assessed on the value of the property instead of the rent value of the property with effect from April 2021. That means, the property tax will be enhanced by ten times. Moreover, the tax will be revised whenever the registration department revises the value of the land from time to time.

Babu Rao recalled that the neighbouring Telangana government announced fifty per cent discount on the property tax whereas the YSRCP government is enhancing exorbitantly in our State which is gross unjust.

In addition to the enhanced property tax, the GOs No 196 and 197 were issued to extract the maintenance charge of drinking water supply and drainage from the people. The municipal corporation will collect Rs 350 per month from each household.

Babu Rao deplored that the Centre and the State governments were transforming the local bodies into commercial institutions. The GOs also envisage collecting up to Rs 140 per thousand litres of water from apartment blocks and commercial organisations. The underground drainage charge will also be enhanced up to Rs 600 per month for each toilet on the premises.

The GOs also give provision to enhance the charges on drinking water and drainage by 15 per cent every year. He said that the government is ready to implement the new charges from April once the municipal elections were over. In fact, the elected local bodies should decide the enhancement of the taxes after the elections were conducted and councils were formed. This is against the spirit of the Constitution, he said.

Noticeably, the government did not convene the Assembly session to discuss the issue before taking the decision on the property tax and drinking water charge.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the ordinance and GOs in the larger interest of the people, he warned the government that a massive agitation will be launched against the new policies.