MUMBAI: In a relief for housing societies on Mhada or Cidco land, the state cabinet has decided to waive the additional non-agriculture (NA) assessment levied on them.

According to the present norms, housing societies that have come up on Mhada or Cidco land measuring more than 8 hectares and up to 12 hectares are levied 1.5 times the NA assessment. The extra amount was charged under the increased land revenue Act and on Tuesday, the state cabinet waived it.

Similarly, housing societies on land measuring more than 12 hectares were charged twice the NA assessment, this too has been waived. The additional tax was levied on Mhada and Cidco, which they were passing on to the societies.

“These societies do not even have land ownership and they are being charged at a higher rate,” said an official, adding that the state will have to forego an yearly revenue of Rs 15 crore.

Speaking to TOI, Thane collector Adhik Patil said, “We had asked Cidco to provide us land record details of allotted plots. In response, we got details of only 500 plots. Cidco does not have computerized records of such plots. The planning authority of Navi Mumbai still enjoys the ownership of entire land in the city with 7/12 extract.”

DM Garad, deputy municipal commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), said, “Societies like SBI Colony, BOI Colony, Air India, Railway Colony, Income Tax colony in NMMC area fall under this category. The revenue department is authorized to collect NA tax.”