Kharghar residents have opposed the Panvel Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) notice to cooperative societies regarding levying of property tax retrospectively from 2016 when the corporation was formed. The notice sought residents’ objections/corrections in the matter.
Residents said that double taxation should be avoided and that Kharghar node hasn’t seen development since the formation of PMC.
They also opposed the high rate of the tax on flats. The PMC, on the other hand, said it does not have any other income source and that providing basic facilities to villages that have now come into its jurisdiction can happen only with this fund.
The last date for making a submission to the commissioner is March 4.
“The tax rate in NMMC or BMC is much lower. This is exorbitant especially since residents have been paying CIDCO taxes. Many discrepancies in tax calculation have also come to light,” said Advocate Lakshmi Ravindra, Kharghar resident.
Residents’ associations and forums in Kharghar wrote to the PMC commissioner. Their letter states that as per government orders, CIDCO continued as the Planning & Development authority in 2016 till the completion of development work.
“As PMC is yet to take over from CIDCO, PMC shouldn’t charge the property tax,” the letter read.
Surjitt Sahani
