Date:14/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061410070400.htm

New Delhi

Mukhi seeks Sheila's apology on new tax method

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 13. The leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, has sought an apology from the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, regarding her statements on the Unit Area Method (UAM). The former alleged that Ms. Dikshit had "issued misleading statements on the new methodology to calculate house tax".

Referring to the reports on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's refusal to put a cap on the house tax, Professor Mukhi emphasised the need to immediately suspend implementation of UAM till all the irregularities were removed.

In a statement issued to the press on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader reiterated that rural areas and self-occupied properties in urbanised villages must be completely exempted from the purview of the UAM as per the recommendation of the Malhotra Committee.

Criticising the Congress for its anti-people policies, Prof. Mukhi said: "Ms. Dikshit had assured that the objective of the UAM was not to increase revenue but to simplify the process to calculate house tax, root out favouritism and bring in transparency. She had clarified that the increase in house tax would not exceed more than 500 per cent for any category. During the time of elections, she said the increase in house tax would be capped at 250 per cent."

He said more than 90 per cent of Delhiites owning properties in old colonies, DDA-built houses and group housing societies would have to pay eight to 10 times more house tax than what they are paying now. "Residential Welfare Associations are strongly opposed to the present system and have demanded immediate suspension of the implementation of UAM," he pointed out.