NEW DELHI: The AAP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has introduced a major house tax waiver for property owners in the capital. Announcing the initiative on Monday, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said those who settle their 2024-25 house tax dues will have all previous outstanding amounts waived.
The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Singh, MCD Mayor Mahesh Khinchi, Deputy Mayor Ravinder Bhardwaj, and Leader of the House Mukesh Goel. As part of the relief measures, homeowners with properties between 100 and 500 square yards will get a 50 per cent tax waiver, while those with houses under 100 square yards will be fully exempt.
Additionally, commercial properties in rehabilitation areas will also receive exemptions. Residents of 1,300 housing apartments who had not previously been eligible for concessions will now benefit from a 25 per cent tax reduction. AAP’s MCD in-charge, Durgesh Pathak, said that the new house tax waiver would put an end to corruption in tax collection. He claimed that many homeowners had been subjected to harassment over outstanding dues under previous administrations. According to Pathak, house tax had often been exploited as a means to extract bribes, resulting in financial losses for the MCD.
He argued that the waiver would not only provide relief to taxpayers but also curb such malpractices. He also pointed to the financial mismanagement of past governments, stating that MCD employees had suffered due to years of delayed salaries. In contrast, he credited AAP’s governance in Delhi for ensuring timely salary payments through improved fiscal management.
However, BJP leaders in the MCD house said that before making any such announcement, prior approval from the Delhi Finance Commission, the Municipal Valuation Committee and the Standing Committee is required. The Standing Committee has not yet been constituted. “AAP leaders know their announcements on house tax today are just a deception. They know the Mayor could be removed anytime,” said Raja Iqbal Singh, LoP MCD.
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Announcing the initiative on Monday, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said those who settle their 2024-25 house tax dues will have all previous outstanding amounts waived.As part of the relief measures, homeowners with properties between 100 and 500 square yards will get a 50 per cent tax waiver, while those with houses under 100 square yards will be fully exempt.Additionally, commercial properties in rehabilitation areas will also receive exemptions.