Amid a walkout by AIADMK MLAs on the issue of hefty increase in property tax, MLAs cutting across party line requested the government to reconsider its decision to impose garbage tax and to increase property tax.
The issue came up for discussion during Question Hour after A. Anbalagan (MLA) brought to the notice of the House the 300% increase in property tax.
The AIADMK leader said residents who were paying property tax of about ₹500 were now remitting ₹2,000.
The sudden decision to increase the tax structure had caused huge financial burden on people. Had successive governments effected annual changes in the tax structure this situation would not have arisen, he said.
Garbage tax
Terming the garbage tax as unwanted, he said the Union Territory was the first to impose garbage tax in the country. R. Siva (DMK) said the Minister had promised a delegation of shop owners to reconsider the decision but so far a decision had not been taken.
The DMK, an ally of the Congress, was more critical of the government on the property tax and tax on garbage.
On many occasions, the Speaker had to intervene to calm down the member from showing his ire on the floor.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Government Whip R.K.R. Anantharaman, T. Djeamourthy (Congress) spoke in favour of revoking the decision on property and garbage tax.
Minister for Local Administration A. Namassivayam said the government would examine all possibilities and inform the House before the session winds up.
Not satisfied with the reply, AIADMK members staged a walkout.