Andhra Pradesh government is planning to increase house tax in urban areas, says CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has stated that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has imposed a burden of ₹784 crore by increasing house taxes in urban areas.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao said that the municipal authorities have launched surveys in 123 towns and cities across the State, covering 40.22 lakh households and other buildings. This survey aims at a 20% house tax hike, amounting to ₹464 crore. From April this year, a 15% increase in house tax (₹320 crore) has already been implemented. In total, the government has given strict directives to increase house tax by 35%, which is ₹784 crore, this year. It wouldn't be surprising if this tax hike reaches ₹1,500 crore, he said.
Mr. Babu Rao said on May 14, the Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana had issued a memo instructing the Municipal Commissioners to complete the survey and increase taxes. By June 15, within one month, surveys must be conducted for every house in the State's urban areas, measurements taken, and taxes increased. Earlier, under the Central government directives, the previous YSRCP government changed the tax policy from rent-based assessment to property value-based taxation and introduced a new law via G.O. 198. Following public protests, the government had claimed it would limit hikes to 15% per year. Despite appeals to revoke the property value-based tax method, the past government had stubbornly refused to do so. Over the last five years, house tax has increased by 80%, from ₹1,188 crore to ₹2,137 crore, he said.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the alliance parties promised during elections and in their manifestos to review this policy and not impose heavy tax burdens. But the alliance government has broken its promise and betrayed public trust. Without even informing the people, the government increased house taxes by 15% from April and started collecting the dues without seeking public objections. In Vijayawada alone, house taxes will go up by ₹40 crore and in Visakhapatnam by ₹112 crore, he said.
During the upcoming Mahanadu in Kadapa, TDP leaders and public representatives must discuss house tax and electricity burdens, listen to people's grievances, uphold their promises, and revoke these burdens. 'Otherwise, we will unite various civil and people's organisations across the State to launch protests and hold the government accountable,' he added.
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