URGENT PRESS RELEASE We are amused to read the news item in today's Times of India " CM told to stay new property tax system" It was due to the public outcry over the unjust levy and hike in property tax that has awakened the elected representatives from their deep slumber. We kindly request the Member of Parliament from North Mumbai not to provide mere lip service but to do something concrete to stop this introduction of new property tax. The said MP is trying to cash on the public outcry against the said property tax and nothing more. The Government of Maharashtra in the year 2010 had tried to introduce this new property tax but because of the hue and cry by the citizens, the Government had to abandon its implementation. It is a matter of record that till date not a single elected representative including the M.P from North Mumbai, nor MLA nor Corporator nor any political parties have raised or opposed such unjust and irrational property tax.. If the elected representatives were so concerned why did they not debate on this issue before being implemented and why the crocodile tears now. Is it to gain the sympathy of the voters? Why tax only the honest tax payers? . It is also a matter of record that the development funds allotted to M.P's [5 crores per year] , MLA's [ 2 CRORES] Corporators [1.35 Crore], 90 PERCENT of these funds are utlised for the benefit of slum dewellers who do not pay property tax. Our humble request is to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul. Since the last three weeks several NGO'S like Sahar Citizens' Forum, Moneylife Foundation, Property Owners Association, The Watchdog Foundation, ALM 144, Civic & Political Cell of St. Vincent de Paul, Save Our Land [SOUL TEAM] including Citizens have been raising a hue and cry on this draconian new property tax. The BMC has perfected the classical played divide and rule policy of the Britishers of targeting only 19 percent of the property owners/ residents who are covered in this new property tax for now. They have very cleverly excluded all those whose properties which are 500 SQ Feet carpet and below for now. BMC has indirectly hinted that this category will be taxed with retrospective effect after 5 years with maximum 40 percent tax increase. On the other hand owing to vote bank politics, the 60 percent of the Slum Dwellers have been excluded from the property tax ambit . If the Government is so benovelent than they must pay for the Slum Dwellers so that the burden on the other property tax payers can be reduced. We are not per se against the slum deweller because they have been created by the illogical policies of the state government in not creating affordable housing in and around mumbai Also the BMC must plug existing loopholes in the various departments particularly the Octroi, road maintenance, garbage collection and license departments. Despite the High Court passing strictures against the BMC in September 2011 to plug the loopholes nothing seems to have been done. In the process more more scams are happening running into crores of rupees thereby wasting tax payers money. If this corruption is arrested by taking appropriate steps, then there is no need to increase any taxes including property tax for another 10 years. Aristotle had wisely commented: " The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control and outnumbers both of the other classes". The middle class is getting organised because of the tyranny of the Government in pushing them in a corner owing to such policies. If the Government is still bent on implementing the property tax under the new rules it will have to bear the consequences at the forthcoming elections to be held on 2014. Mr. M.P if you are really so serious of protecting the interests of the honest tax payers from payment of unjust and increased amount of property tax, than it is our humble request please ensure that the implementation of the new property tax is stopped forthwith. Dolphy Dsouza - 9820226227 Godfrey Pimenta Nicholas Almeida Spokesperson Trustee- The Watchdog Foundation Sahar Citizens Forum Save our Land [SOUL Team] Cell: 09819730201 08898652296 43, Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai 400 029. Cell:09820226227 Email> [email protected]
