Uttarakhand: On the instructions of CM Dhami, the DM withdrew the increase in building tax, know what DM Vandana said
Haldwani Municipal Corporation did not follow the standard procedure while increasing the building tax. The officials of the Municipal Corporation did not even take permission from the administrator of the corporation. The Chief Minister had instructed the DM/Administrator to look into the matter. Municipal Corporation Administrator Vandana has withdrawn the 15 percent building tax increase. Now this process will be completed again in a transparent manner. This has brought relief to 25 thousand people.
On Thursday, the local newspaper published a news titled Municipal Corporation secretly increased the building tax by 15 percent. It said that the Municipal Corporation increases the building tax every four years. For this, the corporation first gives advertisements in newspapers. After this, objections are sought from the people. After the disposal of the objections, the property tax is increased. After this, it is also published how much the rate has increased in which ward.
The Municipal Corporation claims that it gave advertisements for increasing the property tax in two newspapers. It said that even after the advertisement, not a single objection reached the corporation. Therefore, the corporation increased the property tax by 15 percent this time as well, just like before. After the news was published, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took cognizance of it. Instructed the DM to look into the matter and take appropriate action. When the DM/Administrator got it investigated, it was found that the standard procedure was not followed to increase the building tax. Approval for increasing the building tax by 15 percent was also not taken from the Administrator. For this reason, DM/Administrator Vandana has canceled it. Now this process will start again.
Due to non-compliance of standard procedure and due approval, on the instructions of the Chief Minister, an order has been given to postpone the 15 percent increase in the building tax. In future, the entire process will be completed transparently and advance decision will be taken.
-Vandana, DM/Administrator
According to the Municipal Corporation Act, property tax is re-determined in four years. If there is a board, its approval is taken from the board. In case of dissolution of the board, its approval should have been taken from the administrator.
-Jogendra Rautela, outgoing mayor
The process of increasing the building tax should have been followed impartially, which was not done. We did not even know that the building tax has been increased. The Chief Minister’s decision is commendable.
-Rajendra Jina, outgoing councilor
I came to know about the increase in the building tax from the newspaper. The public did not even know when the Municipal Corporation increased the building tax. The procedure should have been followed. The Chief Minister took cognizance of it, this is a relief news.
-Deepa Bisht, outgoing councilor
People should have been informed about the increase in the building tax. If we had been informed, we would have also raised objections. We came to know from the newspaper that the building tax has increased. It is a good step by the administrator to withdraw the 15 percent increase in the building tax.
-Diwan Singh, Captain Retired
Inflation is already increasing. Due to the increase in electricity and water rates, the livelihood of common people is becoming difficult. In such a situation, if the building tax had increased, it would have broken the back. The Chief Minister’s decision is a relief for the common people.
-Pallavi Bisht, Pandey Niwas
After reading the news in the newspaper, I came to know that the Municipal Corporation has increased the building tax by 15 percent. Procedures were not followed in this. Now withdrawal of increased building tax is good news.
-Vineeta Sharma, Samta Ashram Gali
