SDMC, Air Force service charge dispute resolved by Centre

New Delhi: In a major relief to South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the long pending dispute between the civic body and the Indian Air Force (IAF) over payment of service charge for municipal services has been resolved by the intervention of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

According to sources, Housing Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra took the lead and discussed the issue in detail with both the sides and settled the matter.

For various municipal services being provided by it, SDMC has claimed 75 per cent of property tax as service charge in respect of five Air Force stations in Delhi area at Tuglakabad, Rajokri, Arjan Nagar, Dhasna and Bani camp. With IAF disputing this claim, service charge claims have remained unpaid since 2004. The issue between both the stakeholders was the percentage of the service charge to be paid as IAF was ready to pay only 33 per cent.

According to the sources, Mishra heard the arguments of both the sides in the context of the judgement of the Supreme Court in the matter of payment of service charge.

"On detailed consideration of various aspects, Mishra opined that IAF should pay 50 per cent service charge to which both the sides agreed and the IAF agreed to pay the revised charges at the earliest," the sources said.