'North Corporation fooling people over budget proposals'

It has raised property tax manifold in 3 yrs, says Cong

Opposition leaders in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation have accused the ruling BJP of fooling residents by claiming that they are not putting any additional burden on the electorate.

Initiating the discussion over budgetary proposals for the next financial year (2013-14) in the House on Monday, leader of opposition in North Corporation Mukesh Goel said while BJP leaders are claiming that they have spared residents of any tax and parking charges hike, the municipal agency has already raised the rate of taxes and fees for several services manifold in the past three years.

“BJP leaders claim that they are not putting any burden on the common man in the budgetary proposals for the next fiscal. But the truth is they have raised property tax rates across categories,” said Goal.

“For residential properties in category A and B colonies, the rate was increased from 10 to 12 per cent. Similarly, the rate was increased from 10 to 15 per cent for commercial properties,” said Goel.

“Parking charges for autos, tempos and trucks were raised manifold in 2010. And rent and security deposit of community halls have been hiked by almost 50 per cent across categories,” he added.  
  
Goel said income estimates under different heads have been reduced for the next financial year as the civic body officials failed to meet targets set by them in the current financial year.