May 27 (Mumbai Mirror): Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised to consider giving property tax relief for those living in rented tenements measuring up to 500 sq ft. Fadnavis gave the assurance to a delegation led by Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, which requested him not to hike property tax rates for these tenements.

The new property tax regime adopted by the BMC from this fiscal has hiked the tax by 40 per cent for tenements up to 500 sq ft. The chief minister said the government, if needed, will take a decision on this in the state cabinet meeting and a notification would be issued.

Shelar stated that there are about eight lakh tenements in the city which admeasure 500 sq ft or less, and the hike in property tax had resulted in widespread resentment among the common people.

To give relief to the ordinary citizens living in small tenements, amendment to section 140(A) of the BMC Act was necessary, he said.

Shelar added that due to the faulty property tax regime adopted by the BMC in the last five years, it has collected an additional Rs 1,200 crore, and this surplus revenue must be returned to the people.

The HC too had issued directives to the BMC to this effect and had also sought the opinion of Advocate General, he noted.