Chadoora, Feb 22: Renowned politician Zaffer Mir (Lasjan) on Wednesday strongly objected to the recent imposition of property tax in all Urban Local Bodies of Jammu and Kashmir especially in Budgam district.
In a statement issued to Rising Kashmir, Zaffer acknowledged the potential benefits of such taxes but emphasized that the current economic downturn and monetary constraints faced by the common people makes it difficult for them to bear this additional burden.
He drew attention to the spiking rates of unemployment and business decline in the region in order to indicate that introduction of property tax would further exacerbate the financial struggles of the people.
“The recent reports suggest that unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir stands at a staggering 16.2 percent, with many businesses establishments forced to shut down due to economic hardships. In these circumstances levying property tax is detrimental to the welfare of the general public who are still trying to grapple with economic slowdown,” he said.
Highlighting the concerns expressed by several local delegations, Mir urged the government to consider the financial difficulties faced by them and delay the implementation of the tax for a suitable time.
“I request the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in this matter of urgent concern and alleviate public distress, while also urging the government to prioritize the needs and concerns of the people in all its policies and decisions.
Mir reiterated his unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people and emphasized the pressing need for the government is to take necessary steps to address the economic challenges faced by the people, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused huge monetary implications.
He said Govt. must incorporate strategy for economic growth by allowing key industries such as tourism to expand rapidly before implementing taxation policies. Besides generating economic output through food processing units can be a viable means of promoting economic growth.
Mir said that District Budgam currently has five local bodies, most of which were established fairly recently.
“The government should adopt a gradual approach to providing facilities in municipal limits, especially in the district of Budgam, where many of the new urban bodies were only introduced just a decade ago,” he concluded.
