Property tax to be increased in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 7: With the view to enhancing property taxes the English Bazaar municipality has urged the residents to furnish detailed information about the buildings and of commercial complexes in a prescribed form. According to the guidelines of the Central Valuation Board the civic body has started distribution of prescribed forms from different and through announcement it has requested to submit all details within 30 August. After the announcement of revision of valuation of properties the local residents are apprehending that property taxes will be increased heavily. Many of them are apprehending that at least 25 per cent on the present tax may be increased. It may be noted that six years ago the civic body had increased property taxes. Then it was found that property tax for a small building was higher than a big building in various wards. At the time of hearing,a few people had been able to reduce taxes by applying personal influences. Many of them were aggrieved and protested against ‘culture of nepotism’ of local councillors who were present in the hearing. The present chairman of the EBM, Mr Narendranath Tiwari told reporters: “We do not have hands in fixing property taxes. The taxes will be assessed following the guidelines of the central valuation board.” He added that after receiving details from the building owners a team would visit the spot and location of the building for verification of information furnished by the domestic and commercial building owners.The assessment would depend on present valuation of land considering its location and some other criteria. On 12 and 13 August, a workshop would be organised in EBM under the guidance of the state valuation board regarding assessment of property taxes in municipal areas.