Property tax being levied on exempted categories, claims BJP councillor

Ludhiana: BJP councillor of ward number 57 Manju Aggarwal on Thursday submitted a memorandum to mayor Balkar Sandhu on property tax being levied on exempted categories.
She said certain categories including widows are exempted from paying property tax up to Rs 5,000, however, it had come to fore that tax is being levied on residents coming under exempted categories. In a memorandum submitted to the mayor, she raised questions on the methods of calculating property tax.
While quoting an instance, she said that Parvesh Rani, a resident of Shivaji Nagar claimed that being a widow she was told to pay tax by the MC authorities. Parvesh Rani lives in a house measuring 100 square yards. Since, she comes under the exempted category, she was asked by the MC officials to pay Rs 862 as 18% interest and 20% penalty was imposed. Parvesh also got a notice from the civic body to appear before the officials.
The BJP councillor said that there are many such incidents where the MC authorities are levying property tax upon exempted categories. She demanded that such categories should be exempted from paying interest amount and penalty up to Rs 5,000.
She also mentioned that the Congress had promised to end property tax when it will come to power. Hence, even after passing of more than two years, they did not fulfil their promise. She said people did not file their returns simply because the Congress had assured property tax will end so they should not worry about filing returns. She demanded that now the Congress should introduce tax waiver for such people so that they should clear their records.
Meanwhile, mayor Balkar Sandhu said he will have to inquire into the matter from the concerned officials.