Ref: GHCWC: Adviser/07-2013 August 22, 2013 Adviser To Administrator, Chandigarh Administration. UT Chandigarh. Sub: Levying of Residential Property Tax in the Union territory, Chandigarh Sir, I am pleased to invite your kind attention to notification of Residential Property tax on houses that are more than 125 sq yds. While computing tax levy-able on the cooperative society Dwelling units, the area of the entire land will be taken as a single unit and thereafter tax will be divided against the individual flat/dwelling units depending upon their respective area. This compounds the woes of the residents of the group housing cooperative societies in so far as the computation formula worked out to assess property tax on flats shall be disproportionate to the original view of the draft of the residential property tax. As per the norms set by the administration flats that would normally left out of the ambit of the policy shall be taxed but their liability shall be extra. I may hasten to point out that residents of group housing cooperative sector are not averse to the ley of the property tax yet would like to submit that the benefits accruing from the grants to Chandigarh under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal mission shall find no way in the overall development internal infrastructure of the sectors spanned by them, which shall also become a bone of contention for its residents defeating the very purpose of Jnnurm. The group housing societies are already being discriminated in the creation of physical infrastructure within the chunks of land allotted to them as they were forced to create the physical infrastructure within the chunks on their own. The infrastructure created by the societies themselves is, now, languishing due to inadequate funds at their disposal and due to policies pursued by the Chandigarh Administration. Group housing societies will never be in a position to achieve self sustainability. Sir, to allow equitable growth in the group housing cooperative societies sector, it is imperative that the Chandigarh Administration adopts more inclusive strategies and a broader vision. I may suggest administration to consider the policy being implemented in the state of Gujarat for housing societies. The scheme is implemented by the state local urban department and is an off shoot of Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awaas Yojna 2012. Under the scheme state government shall fund the internal infrastructure internal roads. Street light poles and water supply infrastructure in housing societies and has set up Rs. 500 crore in budget under the mukhya mantri shehri awaas yojna. A government resolution has been adopted on 12th April, 2012 by the State Urban Local Department, Gujarat. The sharing of expenses on internal infrastructure can be well understood with the pie chart bellow: funds under the scheme are sanctioned on first come first served basis. Housing societies contribute 20% of the total cost and the rest is funded by the state and the respective Municipal Corporation/ municipalities. The plan and estimate of the work shall be approved by the Local body first; Societies depositing 30% shall be given priority in allocation of funds. The work shall be carried out by government empanelled agencies and shall be monitored by the Municipal Commissioner. Half of the cost shall be reimbursed after administrative approval and the balance shall be disbursed on submission of quality work completion certificate. Funds are allocated as per MP/MLA Local area development format. Housing societies that apply for government funding for their infrastructure – like roads, water supply infrastructure, and street lights – under the Swarnim Gujarat Chief Minister’s Urban Development Fund can now track the progress of the application/ work every month. The Gujarat model if replicated by Chandigarh Administration shall provide succor to keep the internal roads, water infrastructure and street light poles in societies in good functional state and provide for equitable inclusive growth under Public partnership mode and Clause 7 of the land allotment letter would become redundant. This will also go a long way in treating the city on a parity basis and tag of duality in the provision of basic amenities to society residents would stand nullified. Last but not the least; Council seeks rationalization of the Property Tax structure as envisaged in the policy. The present parameters are also prone to cause discrimination. The taking of the society land as one unit will put the flat owners at a distinct disadvantage Vis a Vis the Marla houses. It is suggested that the floor area of the flat alone should be the basis of the levy of the property tax. In so doing, on our part, all members of the group housing societies shall be obliged to pay the notified residential property tax as implemented by the Chandigarh Administration. Rationalization of the property tax for levy on the societies should be on flat basis and not as a single Chunk, a formula adopted by the Administration works on faulty norms. Moreover, since the Administration is contemplating only group housing in housing in the master plan, the suggested model would go a long way in keeping the residents in the group housing sector a satisfied lot. With sincere thanks and Regards. Yours truly, Satish Chandra Sharma. Chairman. A copy forwarded to : Shri Keshav Kumar Pathak, IAS, Joint Secretaary, (Union Territory) Ministry of Home Affairs New Delhi. Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, MP, # 64, Sector 28-A, Chandigarh. Satish Chandra Sharma Chairman.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 12:42:14 +0000
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