MCD all set to hike house tax

Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) is all set to raise the house tax of all the wards of the city, though the rate of the hike would vary from area to area. The civic body officers said that they have started sending notices on the proposed hike in house taxes from Thursday. They, further, said that 15 days would be given to the people to submit complaint or suggestion on the proposed hike in house taxes and thereafter, no appeal would be heard out and the collection would start.

Speaking of the matter, an MCD officer said that proposed hike is a routine affair. “The house tax of different wards is raised once every four years as per the rules. Prior to the move, a list is prepared on the rate of the hike in the house taxes and the areas to come under the hiked rates. We act according to the list.

There are in all 60 wards presently under the charge of MCD from where we collect taxes. A fortnight is given to the people to register their request, application or complaint regarding the increased house tax. We seriously consider their suggestions or complaints.

However, after the completion of the fortnight, we do not entertain any complaint or plea and the tax collection process at the new rate starts,” he said.                

The house tax gets raised according to the width of the roads-12 metre, 24 metre and above 24 metre. There are several categories according to which house tax is collected like the dwellings being pucca or kutcha.

An MCD officer said that the tax is fixed on the measurement of feet and this is what has been raised  by 40 per cent as compared to the  previous list in places like Rajpur Road, Sehasdhara Road, Jakhan, Kishan Nagar, Ghanta Ghar, Dalanwala, Defence Colony, Turner Road, Ballupur and Vasant Vihar.

The tax has been raised by 28 per cent in some areas like  Ajabpur, Mata Mandir, Rispana, Deepnagar, Kaulagarh, Kargi, Ajapur, Dharmpur, Indirapuram and Majra. The officer further said that taxes in some more areas have been raised at some other rates.

Collection of the house taxes from Malin Basti has been stopped: MCD

As per the MCD sources, following the High Court order, the collection of the house taxes from Malin Basti has been stopped.

It is, further, learnt that the civic body is sending notices to those residing in the Malin Basti under the ongoing anti-encroachment drive.

However, when quizzed, the municipal commissioner Dehradun Vijay Kumar Jogdande denied it and said, "We have not stopped collecting taxes from the Malin Basti.

Our team are collecting the taxes as per the normal norm. However, it often happens that they fail to deposit the taxes.”

Notably, the tax collection from the Malin Basti started in April this year after a lot of hiccups that came in the way.