Date:24/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/24/stories/2008072457950600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli

“Raise property tax for houses by 10 per cent”

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: The Corporation administration convened a meeting of various residential welfare and traders’ associations’ representatives here on Wednesday to discuss the proposed property tax structure to be finalised in the council meeting slated for July 31.

After the State Government instructed the corporations to revise the property structure as part of the revenue augmenting measures, it was initially decided to effect 25 per cent tax increase for houses, 100 per cent for industries and 150 per cent for business establishments, which drew widespread opposition.

It forced the Corporation administration to convene a meeting with the ‘affected’.

While most of the speakers who represented residential welfare associations, asked Mayor A.L. Subramanian to keep the tax increase for houses within 10 per cent, the traders said the proposed increase for commercial establishments should be between 20 and 25 per cent. “At a time when the public have been hit hard by unprecedented inflation, the farmers are undergoing horrible phase due to successive crop failure, which collectively has an adverse impact on the business. Hence, any steep increase in the tax structure will badly affect us,” the hoteliers, traders and owners of commercial establishments appealed.

Replying, chairman of Tirunelveli Zone S. Viswanatha Pandian said the Corporation, which was executing major projects like UGD scheme and good number of drinking water projects and planning to implement mega drinking water projects for the peripheral areas, had no other way but to “reasonably increase” the tax structure. Hence everyone should cooperate with the civic body in this regard he said.

The Mayor said the Corporation would finalise the tax structure after getting the nod of the Council scheduled to meet on July 31. Commissioner T. Mohan, chairpersons Suba. Seetharaman of Palayamkottai Zone and S.S. Mohamed Maideen of Melapalayam Zone, some councillors attended the meeting.