The Maharashtra government announced a delay on the recovery of non-agricultural (NA) tax, a major relief for residents of Mumbai's suburbs, in response to strong demand from both the ruling and opposition parties. Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat made the declaration in response to
BJP legislator Ashish Shelar's calling attention motion in the state assembly.
Residents of housing societies have already been heavily struck by the epidemic and the lockdown, according to ruling and opposition members, and the government should immediately suspend the collection of NA tax. Thorat also stated that a committee would be formed to permanently modify the norms and regulations in this area.
Thorat's announcement is critical in light of the impending elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, in which estranged partners the
Shiv Sena and the BJP will face off for the second time since the 2017 polls. Shelar has previously stated that the non-agricultural tax notices sent to over 60,000 individuals in Mumbai's suburbs were unreasonable.
"In suburban Mumbai, developers paid non-agricultural tax when they built buildings, chawls or other residential structures. Even after that, they continue to receive tax letters. Even though the previous government followed up on it at various levels, such notices continue to be served.
He stated that three societies from the Bandra west assembly seat had received notices: Saraswat Housing Society, St Sebastian Society and Salsette Society. " While people are suffering from an economic crisis as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, the government is imposing massive levies and burdening the people. Also, this tax does not apply to societies in Mumbai city, but only to projects in the suburbs," Shelar explained. He was perplexed as to how a city could have two sets of rules.
Image Courtesy: BMC Elections 2022