Shimla : The CPIM’s state unit on Sunday demanded the repealing of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation act and the Urban Bodies act in the upcoming monsoon session of the state assembly.
“The act passed by the vidhan sabha with respect of property tax on the people is part of the wider agenda of neo liberalism,†alleged Tikender Singh Panwar, member state secretariat state unit CPIM.
“It can be clearly deciphered from the spirit of the act that the amendment has been brought out under the guidelines of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM) and the 13 th Finance Commission,†he said.
The statement of objects and reasons of the act categorically marks the direction and spirit of neo liberalism, he said.
The CPIM feels the new form of property tax on unit area is far away from the stark realities of the area, Panwar said.
The party has further asked the government to continue with the relaxation of 100 sq metres of bonafide occupants for property tax.
It criticized the duality in its operation.In merged area where the MC has failed to provide any face lift, such areas should be kept out of the ‘property tax’ ambit.
“Till date the MC does not provide street lights,sewerage and even water supply to a large number of merged areas,this is being provided by the IPH department directly,†said Panwar.
The CPIM has also asked the government to regularize their buildings on the basis of ‘as it is where it is’, as the buildings were constructed way before the MC formation and merger of these areas into the MC.
The party will hold agitations along with the affected people if these demands are not met, he said.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
