20K people did not pay property tax: NDMC

Over 20,000 people in the city have not paid property tax due under the rateable value system, amounting to over Rs 300 crore, as they did not trust ex-parte decisions, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said on Saturday.

"Before the implementation of Unit Area Method on April 1, 2004, a scheme to give relief to such property tax-payers was approved. Since, honest <g data-gr-id="21">tax payers</g> were not satisfied that the ex-parte decisions would be made truly on the facts," Chairman Standing Committee Mohan Prasad Bhardwaj said.

Therefore, the scheme is modified to give them relief to pay the tax either of the systems i.e. Unit Area Method or Rateable Value Method. The cases would be decided on merit.

The decision to give relief to such <g data-gr-id="20">tax payers</g> of <g data-gr-id="18">ex-parte</g> decision prior to March 31, 2004, is taken in the interest of the corporation to generate revenue, Bhardwaj added.

The Standing Committee Chairman said that the corporation is taking some initiatives for property tax system to check red-tapism and minimise the contact so that <g data-gr-id="15">tax-payers</g> can deposit their property tax with respect and with ease.