Demonstration at MCD over hiked house tax

On the last day of submitting complaints regarding the hiked house tax by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, around 30 local residents along with members of different political parties held a protest demonstration at MCD office on Friday. The people demanded the civic body officials to immediately withdraw the 40 per cent hike effected on the house taxes by MCD. They also served a memorandum signed by over 300 people.

Another issue which the people raised during the meeting and the demonstration is the alleged haphazard anti-encroachment drive now going on in the city. They alleged that the demolition squads are leaving many squatters selectively despite the fact that they are bound to raze them down as per the ruling of the court. They said they are not in principle against the demolition drive. But there should be no discrimination, favouritism, they said.  

Ajay Pal, member of Jan Sewa Party, said, “MCD raised the house tax substantially three years ago when they started the self-service. People who used to pay Rs 170 to Rs 180 as tax started paying Rs 1000 to Rs 2000. The people accepted it.   But this time, the house tax being hiked by 40 to 60 per cent is too much. We demand MCD to immediately roll back the hike or else face protest.”

Those present during the demonstration said that the services provided by the MCD are poor. “We face water–logging once it rains. The sanitation of the city is abysmal. Door to door garbage collection system is erratic. The street lights are in pathetic condition in several wards,” said one of them. Another said that the house tax should be raised after the board is formed through election. “Besides, the house tax should be raised once in four years and it must not exceed five per cent,” said a resident.

An AAP member Anita Valmiki said that the anti-encroachment drive is discriminatory. “While some encroachments are being pulled down some are left untouched. The drive should get into the small roads from the big market areas. There are many encroachments lining up such interior roads,” she said.

Quizzed over the demonstration by the people, a MCD officer said that they assured them of considering their demand. Over 350 complaints have been received by the corporation so far against the rise in house tax, he added.