The Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Wednesday urged the people to not fall prey to the certain vested interests spreading false information and creating misconceptions around anti-encroachment drives, power generation and property tax.
No poor will be touched during anti encroachment drives but no influential encroacher will be spared. The encroached land retrieved by the government will be utilised for the welfare of common man and schools, colleges, hospitals, sports facilities will be developed on the retrieved land, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also shared the facts in detail regarding the imposition of property tax in the UT.
“The property tax in Jammu and Kashmir is the lowest as compared to other states. There are around 5,20,000 houses in cities of J&K. Out of these, 2,06,000 houses are less than 1000 sq ft and no tax is being imposed on them”, he said.
No tax on 40% of the people living in cities, in rural and on religious places. 2,03,600 houses are less than 1500 sq ft and 80% of these households will have to pay less than Rs 600 per annum. This amount is one-tenth of the tax amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun, the Lt Governor said.
46,000 out of 1,01,000 shops in city areas are less than 100 sq ft and they will have to pay upto Rs 700 per annum. Out of these 46,000 shops, 80% will have to pay a meager Rs 600 per annum/ Rs 50 per month. 30,000 shops will have to pay taxes below Rs 2000 per annum and out of these, 20,000 will have to pay less than Rs 1500 which is also one-tenth of the amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun, he noted.
Revenue will directly go to the accounts of municipalities and corporations. This step has been taken to make our cities an engine of growth, he added.
The Lt Governor also invited suggestions from all sections of the society with regard to better arrangement in property tax.
Our doors are open. Everyone must come forward in making J&K a dynamic and developed region of the country, he added.
