Congress protests property tax on open residential spaces

Indore: Congress on Tuesday held a protest against Indore Municipal Corporation's decision to levy property tax on open areas of residential houses.Terming the tax ‘unjust and an unnecessary burden', Congress leaders warned that they would physically block any official attempts to collect these dues.Led by Leader of Opposition in IMC, Chintu Choukse, a large group of Congress activists gathered at municipal commissioner's office and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate withdrawal of the tax."Imposing tax on open spaces left within a house is fundamentally wrong. This decision will affect nearly 8 lakh property owners in Indore. Even small plot owners will now be forced to shell out an additional Rs 600 to Rs 3,000 every year," Choukse said. He added that if the recovery drive began, Congress workers would reach the spots to conduct ‘peaceful but firm' protests to protect citizens from what he described as a ‘whimsical and arbitrary' policy.Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav said that the move did not originate from city's local body. "No such proposal was brought before or passed by Mayor-in-Council (MIC). This is a decision made by Madhya Pradesh govt, which is now being implemented. The Municipal Corporation has not taken any independent call on this," he said.Municipal Commissioner Kshitij Singhal, who accepted Congress memorandum, assured the protesting delegation that the administration would review the matter. "We have received the memorandum and will examine all legal and technical aspects of the decision," Singhal said.