East Corpn mulls to bring illegal colonies under tax net

The East Corporation is mulling to levy house tax on properties in the unauthorised colonies under its areas as a measure to generate revenue to extricate itself from financial crisis.

A proposal was tabled in the standing committee of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday. “If the proposal is passed in the House meeting, we will start levying house tax on the properties in the unauthorised colonies under east civic agency,” said Lata Gupta, Chairman of East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

“It is our right as we can levy tax on such colonies under the Delhi Municipal Act,” she added.

But the city government has barred the civic agencies from collecting house tax from properties in unauthorised colonies.

There are 267 unauthorised colonies under the limits of East Corporation.
The civic agency has decided to keep the house tax at the nominal rates. “These properties anyway come under the lower category and we will make sure the tax doesn’t burden the people,” said Gupta.

Garbage lifted
East Delhi Mayor Harshdeep Malhotra on Thursday said most of the streets strewn with garbage due to the strike by sanitation workers have been cleared off.

He added that the civic agency has been collecting garbage to the tune of 2,000-2,200 MT per day.

“All the auto tipper operators have been instructed to work till 6 pm instead of 3 pm every day to lift more garbage from the streets and dhalaos,” he added. “Most of the dhalaos have been cleared at least once. Since the waste has been reaching dhalaos regularly and the garbage is still being found there.”

The mayor said regular meetings are being held to review the day-to-day progress. “All the senior officers have been deputed to inspect two wards each and actions are being taken accordingly.”