Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 13: The hike in property tax affected by the administrator after obtaining signatures of legislators from the region was promised to be brought down to previous level by the current municipal administration led by Congress party. However, hopes of such a reduction have been dashed with Mangaluru Municipal Corporation getting notice from urban development department stating that the resolution passed by it to reduce property tax has been withheld, and calling for reasons why the same should not be treated as cancelled.

City mayor, Mahabala Marla, confirmed receipt of such a notice. He said that the notice clearly states that if a reply is not received within 25 days, the department will treat the resolution to bring down property tax as withdrawn.

The Congress leaders including Janardhan Poojary had promised during the electioneering that property tax rates will not be allowed to be hiked. The leaders knew well then that it was impossible, as it is mandatory for the corporation to hike property tax periodically once in three years, by at least 15 percent as per the provision of law. Both B A Mohiuddin Bava and J R Lobo, who were elected as MLAs after promising not to hike property tax, had signed the proceedings for affecting property tax hike when the corporation was under the administrator, after the election of mayor was held up due to litigation relating to reservation criteria.

It is almost certain now that the hiked property tax rates will stay at that level, and those who have not paid, hoping that the tax will come down, may have to pay the dues along with penalty, if they continue to delay payment of property tax. Those who had paid tax properly and were waiting to get reduction in next year's tax dues, are also a disappointed lot now.