NEW DELHI (INDIA): BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation today proposed making payment of property tax online only from next financial year, a move in line with the Centre’s e-governance and ‘digital India’ model.
South Delhi Municipal Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel said this while presenting the SDMC’s revised budget estimates for 2016-17 and budget estimates for the year 2017-18 at the Civic Centre here.
“After Prime Minister’s announcement on demonetisation, stress has been laid on making payments online. In his ‘Mann ki Baat’, he spoke about a ‘cashless society’ and advised moving towards ‘e-wallet’.
“So, in line with that, from next financial year, it is proposed that all property tax-related forms and payment would be accepted online only and payment in cash will not be accepted,” Goel said in the budget speech.
The proposed revised budget estimates for financial year 2016-17 stands at Rs 3,796.33 crore while the budget estimates for 2017-18 has been proposed to be Rs 4,104.13 crore for total revenues.
For total expenditure, the proposed revised budget estimates for financial year 2016-17 stands at Rs 4,046.77 crore while the budget estimates for 2017-18 has been proposed to be Rs 4,515.92 crore.
“For paying the property tax, apps and e-wallets shall provide the service accordingly. All these apps would be connected to the corporation’s Property Tax Department’s online services.
“Those tax payers, who do not have the facility to submit PTR from online, shall be facilitated through a special window that would be opened in each of our zones. Special camps would also be organised in all wards,” he added.
Among other major decisions, the budget has also proposed a 1 per cent increase in property tax for residential properties under categories C, D and E and 2 per cent in residential properties under categories A and B; and 5 per cent increase for certain commercial properties under categories A to H, viz., guest houses, inns, lodges, PG houses, restaurants without bars or AC, liquor shops and bars.
In sanitation area, 2000 more dustbins are being purchased and at least 100 toilets are to be constructed at important places having substantial footfall during the next financial year, it said.
A waste-to-energy plant at Badarpur and a construction and demolition waste processing plant at Badarpur and Tajpur Pahari have also been proposed.
Other proposals include 21 new upgraded health centres with all medical facilities, setting up of a specialised unit at Purnima Sethi Multi Specialty Hospital in Kalkaji in collaboration with Safdarjung Hospital. Construction of 100-bedded hospital in Tilak Nagar, Fatah Pur Beri, Dwarka is underway.
It has also been proposed to open a special diabetes centre in each zone for testing and treatment.
Source: Press Trust of Indai